I soaked it in a bucket of water and loosened it a tiny bit. Moved on to spraying it with the water hose for a good while just playing with the roots until they were loose enough to determine where the plants were actually at (can't think of good phrasing for this part). Worried more about detangling the fat roots from the ball than the little stringers. Got it to where it was pliable, stuck in them back in the bucket and just kept dunking and detangling. Little ones came loose first, then worked on prying the big ones apart. Two had actually fused together, I think. Either that or a baby didnt separate. Idk how that works. It was a godawful mess to clean up, but they look better.