Sure. Here's what I do. When I bring a plant home, I place it in a temporary shady spot. When I have time, I slip the plant out of the pot and have a look at the soil....(I like to know what kind of soil it is) and also look at the roots. Then I put the plant back in it's pot until I plant it.
Sometimes the pots have been recently well watered at the nursery (hydrated) and they will be fine for a day or so. I let them have a rest from being jostled around. It gives me time to prepare/amend the hole I will plant them in.
If the soil does not look moist, or I see any bugs (!) I will stick them (pot and all) in a bucket or basin of water for about 20 minutes or so, then allow them to drain. That is how I hydrate them..... and any bugs drown.
When I plant, I loosen the root ball a bit before placing it into the ground, very carefully with a screw driver, chopstick or something such as that. Especially the roots on the bottom. Often they are wound pretty tight. If I can't loosen them a bit, I will make a few shallow, vertical slices on the outside of the rootball with a knife (maybe 4 slices.) or at least across the bottom (2 slices) I lay them on their side to do this.
I have found by experience, the new plant will integrate itself into the soil with much more ease if the roots are not overly congested. Of course I take efforts to make that hole plant worthy and add the appropriate soil around the plant before tamping it in and watering.
It gets about 10 minutes of minimal trickle watering on alternate days from the sprinklers- especially if it is planted in full sun. I do that until I see new growth at the least. (if it rains, I don't do it.)
The only thing I have not done this way was my large Bougainvillea. THAT I planted still in the pot. I just sliced the bottom of the pot off before planting, to make the roots go deep, not spread out. I was taught that it helps keep them hardier to cold, easier to keep in bounds, and easier to remove if needed. Mine is two years old now and thriving.
Now I will shut my yap. I am a garden nut.
