How do you remove the nursery potting mix from roots?

I still have some storebought AVs to repot. They have that thick, spongy potting mix that is like concrete when it's dry. I've tried watering them well so it's almost drippy and I've tried letting them almost completely dry out, but no matter what I do, it is almost impossible to get all that off the roots. How do I get it off without cutting or ripping all the roots off? The last couple I repotted pouted something awful, and I know it's because they didn't have enough roots left to support the foliage, even though I removed some of the leaves.
Thanks for your help!

Me when the soil is dry it comes off easier. Most times it does not and I don't want the thick heavy soil blocking my roots from growing. I have fount it good for me I cut it almost all off. If I don't like it or quality of roots I cut them off and start with a crown. New roots grow fast and healthy !

I do the same as Ali, but if I like the roots near the base of the plant and they're nice and white or healthy, then I get a bowl of warm water and swish the root ball around until I get most of it off. Then I trim out any yuk roots and repot.

OK So do you guys remove most of the leaves since it doesn't have many roots left?

AV have fibrous roots that spread all throughout the mix. It becomes pretty much impossible to "untangle".

Generally, wet roots are more pliable and therefore can do less damage to roots while removing the old mix. This is a bit theoretical when it comes to a rootbound AV.......

The usual procedure here is to stick some chopsticks (or spoon handles or something) up into the rootball from the bottom center and jiggle them around. And if nothing comes loose, then it's time to give the thing a root-trimming.

AVs are regularly given root trimmings - once they are a mature size, the non-trailers usually get repotted back into the same size pot - this means that the root ball gets a trim.

Best to do the repotting in spring, and of course, healthier plants will pout less after the repot. But either way, you want to go easy on the watering (less roots = less of the water in the pot is used up = water less frequently) and the fertilizer (same deal) until it gets used to it.

I usually add a bit of hydrogen peroxide into my watering after a repot (helps prevent root rot from all the damaged roots) and a rooting hormone (I use dynagrow's KLN solution).

oh yes, the swishing works!

but if it doesn't, you can try all you want, you'll damage the roots anyway, so go ahead and trim.

I do not remove any but old wilting leaves - the plant should have some roots left to sustain it. I trim off roots from the bottom and center, leaving the roots on the top and near the sides of the pot (guessing them to be the newer roots). Then I pot the plant deeper so that there is no "neck" above the surface. Then, a little less light and a little less water and no fertilizer.

I only remove old leaves also. Or ones that look out of place. If the leaves are nice it put them down .

Thank you all so much! I've put off repotting these because it seemed to stress the plant so much. I'll give it a shot today and see how it goes. I really appreciate all the thorough explanations you all gave me! It really helps. :o) I'll get the hang of all this yet!

Amy, you can also tent your av's after you do the root removal so they have extra humidity and prevent leaf wilting. I did this to one of my ebay purchases that has too many babies in one pot. I ended up with 4 plants and had to bag three since they had very little root system (we have no humidity here so I have to create it)

I forgot to add that I also give them B1 when I chop at the roots alot. Helps with transplant shock.

We don't have much humidity in the winter, but it's picked up now. 57% in the house now, per the thermostat/humidity monitor-thingy. ;o) I may still bag them to give them a better chance. Thanks!

Hmm, no B-1, but I've got Eleanor's!

Yes VF-11 is great ! Sometimes I like to take crowns from large trailers pot them up. They can look wilty a few days and will soon within 4-10 days be rooted and growing :))

If you're going to cover them, make sure your potting mix is not too wet! (same as for putting leaves down)

good luck - it should go fine.

Hmmm, well I don't cover the leaves I put down, so maybe I shouldn't cover the plant then. Or, since I have several to do, maybe I'll repot two of them, cover one and not cover the other and see which does better. Nothing like a good experiment! It might not help anyone else, but it would help me determine what is best for my plants in my unique home environment.
You know, it's very interesting to me how each home is different enough that what is fabulous for one person's plants might prove fatal for another's. It's a lot of trial and error at best, it seems. I'll give it a shot and report back my findings.
Thanks again to everyone!