Himalayas are young mountains which grow every year, the Asian plate going under, ours going up. Tremendous forces locked up. Then these mountains are non volcanic and composed of soil with very little rock content.
The Hindu Khush mountains are volcanic, metamorphic in origin and very old. Then there is a third chain coming from Europe and they all meet near Pamirs (Roof of the World). The Vale of Kashmir lies just about where they meet.
So, there is a lot of potential forces locked up in this area (seismic forces) and we do seem to get one now and then but Lynn, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkistan and western corner of China should be taken as same area and all the earthquakes in the area counted as one. Pakistan is lucky with one event hundred years or so.
Now lets get back to our subject of containers. I must be having more than two hundred of them (census time) of various sizes. The biggest holds about 100 Kgs of soil and my Bougainvillea (five) are in them which reminds me i have to repot or cut out the fine web of roots that forms on the pots inner surface any time now. Then i have different species of Ficus in one size smaller pots (privacy) i have to cut their root web out also every winter or they stop taking up nutrition from the soil. These fine silver roots do have a function. I use a scythe to trench down along the side of the pot at the same time cutting out the roots without disturbing the root ball.
At this time of the year or during Monsoons when humidity is very high i don't mind disturbing the root ball, washing and pruning the roots then repotting. Disturbing the root ball is not much of an issue with me, i do it in deep shade and let the plants rest there until new growth starts. Its end April, May, June and some portion of July when the furnace starts up in this area, then i just ignore the plants and try to keep them moist and happy. This furnace is the heart of the Monsoons, no furnace no Monsoons.
Look at this Euphorbia growing in a crack in the rock face and see how happy it is?
Regards,
Masud.