Employee was nice enough to give me a kalanchoe tomentosa last week, but came in a handmade ceramic teapot with no drainage and very narrow neck compared to the rest of it. Nice looking plant but not sure how it made it this long.

I normally water well and plan on 30 minutes and a couple beers, chopstick and a knife, to remove something like this. Start on the edges, loosen and remove soil, while trying to avoid the main root mass.
Can always smash the teapot obviously but I gave my word I'd do my best to return it. Just don't want to kill the plant in an effort to save the pot.

How would you go about it?
Will post a photo shortly.

I've had good luck with slow water and chopstick to loosen and wash away, but as crappy as the current soil is I want to keep the main root ball intact instead of rinsing it off.

Eyeing a small silicone spatula...

Good luck!

pirl said: Good luck!

Thanks, I'll figure something out.

Thanks, but I feel like I'm walking the plank now.

You can do it.
If you lose a lot of roots and can't get the whole plant to perk up, you can cut all the branches w/heads off and make 7 different plants...

webesemps said: You can do it.
If you lose a lot of roots and can't get the whole plant to perk up, you can cut all the branches w/heads off and make 7 different plants...

Last resort, but yes:)

Thanks.

What happened? We're all curious.

Bev has a great idea there!

If the soil is dry use an orchid stick to loosen the soil on the edges of the inside of the pot. Then you can easily pry out the kalanchoe plant with less damage on the rootball.

Bated breath....

Sorry, it'll probably be a few days. Just got it home and want to let it settle in a bit. I now have Wednesday Thursday off, so probably next week. Not a good nighttime project.

Sorry for the suspense.

Humboldt said: Sorry for the suspense.

do keep us posted

Will do, no more an indoor project than it is a nighttime one.

A thought... I guess you have tried pulling and gotten resistance- because there is the chance the roots are not great and there is NOT a good solid rootball filling the pot, but a wimpy one.

sallyg said: A thought... I guess you have tried pulling and gotten resistance- because there is the chance the roots are not great and there is NOT a good solid rootball filling the pot, but a wimpy one.

Yes, first thing, not going to happen. Looks more like backyard dirt than potting soil, very fine and compacted, holding whatever's there in a death grip. And the ceramic overhang is at least 30% or more.

A bit worried, the lower stem is covered with either mold or natural hairs. Haven't had a chance to look into it.

I figure either mold on a dying stem from over-watering or ex-local environment, or that if it has furry leaves it can have a furry stem also. Wouldn't rule it out, plants are weird but I highly doubt it.

Anyone tried apple cider vinegar and water to deal with mold? Seeing lots of references.
First route will probably be wipe down with that then in front of a fan a couple hours per day while the soil dries out.

Sorry for the lighting, but you see what I'm talking about? Never noticed until just now.

I'm going with mold from a chronically moist environment and 100% lack of drainage.

This puppy's in for a change, if it doesn't work I'll go for the cuttings.