Can you save plants with weak roots?

[Scapexghost]

I know Cory has said a few times that you are "paying for the roots" when buying plants. So, if you have a plant with no roots or so few roots that they cannot be planted, can they be saved? If so, how?

[Patrick_G]

I think it depends on what of plant, but I’d try floating it just above the substrate to see if you can get some new root growth. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

It certainly depends on what kind of plant we're talking about. I agree with @Patrick_G if it looks kinda hopeless float the plant if not above the substrate, just float it. Sometimes that alone will get roots going. I snip my stem plants and just let them float a lot of the time until they get roots then I plant them. 

[Scapexghost]

On 3/7/2022 at 9:21 PM, Patrick_G said:

I think it depends on what of plant, but I’d try floating it just above the substrate to see if you can get some new root growth. 

 

On 3/7/2022 at 9:24 PM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

It certainly depends on what kind of plant we're talking about. I agree with @Patrick_G if it looks kinda hopeless float the plant if not above the substrate, just float it. Sometimes that alone will get roots going. I snip my stem plants and just let them float a lot of the time until they get roots then I plant them. 

What about plants like valisneria?

[JoeQ]

On 3/8/2022 at 12:13 AM, Scapexghost said:

 

What about plants like valisneria?

As with stems trimming promotes growth. I'd trim the blades as well as the roots then float it. This could be enough to stress the plant into growing a baby shoot. I'd then separate once the baby grows a little and plant it in the substrate.