Compots - Dumb question

[coirchoir]

After having mutliple seedlings share a compot, how do you separate the roots to transplant them into their individual pots without hurting the plants.
This is not a problem I currently have (fortunately or unfortunately) but one I hope to have! Just trying to plan ahead.

[Des]

I find it far better to plant them into single pots . compots do damage roots and set the seedlings back some .

[coirchoir]

But I did hear that crowding the orchids in asingle compot helped them with humidity and such when coming straight out of a flask, and improves survival ratios at that time; so weighing one need (at deflasking time) against the other (at time of transplanting into single pots), what might be the better trade-off...
just wondering, though for me, it might be a moot point at this point.

[Pippin]

I use coffee filters with medium (usual 7-9 filters in a pot). Each filter gets just one plant. I have all the advantages of a compot and none of the troubles.

[coirchoir]

but you still don't get the crowding effect that is supposed to help with the humidity in a true compot, I would think??

[Gin]

I may put 2 of the same size to a pot but no more then that I have received compots where the roots were so tangled you could not help break them also they grow lop sided competing for space with their pot mates .. I like Pippins idea of the coffee filters , we were posting at the same time Gin

[coirchoir]

so looks like so far no one ever has done a crowded compot - I'll put up pictures of my tray tomorrow, and report my up and down experience eventually, (too early to say much now, I think)
Thanks on seeing you back Gin

[Miki]

It's difficult to totally avoid damage, but an easy way is to soak the whole compot for a while (E.G., 20 minutes). Doing this will help the roots to become a bit lubricated and less "glued" to anything. Remove all of the plants as a whole and swish the roots in a bucket of water until individual plant start to fall out. You can then gently tease apart each plant.

[coirchoir]

I will remember to do that when the time comes!
Thank you, Miki

[Ray]

With delicate plants like those in compots, you had better be managing the conditions well, as relying on crowding to increase humidity (it's not an appreciable increase anyway) is foolish.

Using compots or plug trays doesn't seem to make a difference. Miki gave great advice on separating them.