How to Repot Houseplants Without Killing Them
Most houseplants may survive for years in the same pot. However, some quickly growing plants, like pothos or philodendrons, can take over their container and require repotting about once a year. If the plant’s roots start to grow through the drainage holes, it’s usually time to give it a new home. If water flows straight through the pot and out the drainage holes each time you add moisture, that is another red flag.
Repot houseplants is usually done in the spring or summer when the plant is actively growing. Transplanting in the fall is also a wonderful idea, but try to do it at least three or four weeks before bringing the plant inside for the winter.
It may seem like a lot of labor to repot your plants. However, according to common belief, it’s quite simple! Plus, they’ll have more space to grow and be happier, healthier friends of your green buddies. As a result, they truly benefit from it.
Why should you Repot Indoor Plants?
Most of us will outgrow our homes in a few years. Some may require additional space for our children or pets. Alternatively, we can simply purchase too much stylish furniture and require a larger space to display it all. Plants are no different, though. They will one day outgrow their pots and require a larger space.
Your plant will alert you in a lot of ways if it needs to move. Here are a few of the most common indicators:
- The roots can be seen above the ground or growing out of the drainage holes.
- Water does not absorb; it just floats on top.
- It feels like the soil is continuously drying out and cracking.
- It simply appears too large for the pot.
- Years have passed since you replaced it.
Sometimes, all you need to do is replace the soil to make it look fresh if the plant is still a reasonable size for the pot and the dirt appears a little old – similar to giving your house a fresh coat of paint. However, it’s time for a replacement if the plant appears to be overgrowing its container and is too large.
Repotting House Plants into bigger pots
It is crucial to gradually expand the size of the pot you choose for your houseplant over time. Just as you wouldn’t dress a 6-year-old child in newborn clothes, it’s crucial that the container you choose is only marginally bigger than the one your houseplant is now in.
When choosing a new pot, keep its diameter no more than 2″ larger for tabletop planters and no more than 4″ larger overall. If you’re repotting a tiny plant, your new planter may need to be an inch bigger.
The container size where your plant will live is crucial because we tend to water plants more heavily in larger planters. A tiny plant in a big planter with loads of soil and water together equals unintentional yet kind of killing. Instead of drowning your plant in the dirt, give it more space to grow into the upcoming months.
Best Soil for Repotting Indoor plants
When transferring your plant to a new container, you must use fresh potting soil; your type will determine how well it does there. When repotting houseplants, use a potting mix specifically developed for indoor environments. This soil is designed to provide the proper balance of water and nutrients for houseplants.
A loose, porous media containing bark, charcoal, and perlite will help with drainage and water retention, which is critical to preventing root rot. To achieve these conditions, combine 50% orchid and 50% ordinary potting mix.
The orchid mix includes bark, charcoal, and perlite, which aid drainage and appropriate air circulation around the roots. Mix the two in a separate container before adding a small amount of water to ensure no hydrophobic patches are hiding in the pot.
How to Repot a Plant without killing it?
Remove the plant from its current pot
After turning your plant sideways and carefully holding it by the leaves or stems, tap the bottom of the container until the plant slides out. It might require a little support, so give the base of the stems a few tugs.
Loosen the roots
Using your hands, carefully loosen the plant’s roots. When pruning off any extra-long, thread-like roots, make sure to leave the thicker roots at the base of the leaves. Try to release and trim the roots if your plant is root-bound, meaning the roots grow in tight circles around the base.
Remove the old potting mix
Take out at least one-third of the old potting mix encircling the plant’s roots. You should give your plant a new potting mix or soil because as it grows, it may have taken up all of the nutrients in the existing mix.
Add new potting mix
Fill the empty pot with new potting soil and tamp down any air pockets. Before adding the potting mix, cover the bottom of the pot with lava rocks or something comparable if it doesn’t have a drainage hole. The idea is to make spaces where excess water can collect and divert from your plant’s roots.
Add Plant
Make sure your plant is centered when you place it on top of the newly added mix layer in the planter. Then, surround the plant with additional potting mix until securely in place. Make sure to leave enough space for the roots to breathe in the planter by not adding too much soil.
Water the Plant
Remember not to add too much water. After the pot or liner is filled, level up the soil on top of the pot and give your plant a drink. You won’t need to fertilize the plant because the new potting soil already has nutrients.
When to Repot Indoor Plants?
The ideal time of year to repot your plants is just before a new growing season starts. Therefore, the best times for repotting houseplants are winter or early spring. This will enable your plant to expand into larger pots and absorb all the nutrients from the newly added soil, ready for an amazing summer look.
Plants often require repotting every 12 to 18 months. However, this may vary according to how quickly they grow. Certain plants that develop slowly, like snake plants or cacti, can live in their pots for many years with only a simple soil adjustment.
If you recently purchased a young plant and have noticed that it is growing quickly, you must repot it every six months until the older plant starts to experience fewer growth spikes.
Final Thoughts
Timing and technique are important when repotting indoor houseplants. You should think about repotting every 1-2 years or when your plants outgrow their pots and start showing root-boundness symptoms. Select a new pot barely bigger than the old one with drainage holes to avoid overflowing.
Gently remove the plant from its old pot, work the roots loose, and transfer it to the new pot filled with fresh potting mix. After repotting, give the plant plenty of water to help it get used to its new location. Repotting not only provides your plant with extra room to develop but also restores the soil and adds important nutrients that promote stronger growth.
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