If you are new to taking care of houseplant , it is all too easy to think of them as “ creatures of riding habit ” , quite literally root in a individual location , and to draw a blank that houseplants miss what garden plants take for granted — ample space to grow and expand their root systems .
You may also , on the other hand , be quite aware thatmost houseplantsneed to be repotted fairly on a regular basis to keep their strong and healthy roots , but scar that you will make mistakes during the process , and that youcould finish up pop your plantduringthe repotting cognitive process .
In either case , we ’re here to help . In this beginner - friendly guidebook to repotting houseplants , you ’ll find out why houseplants need to be repotted , how to determine that it ’s time to get your houseplant a new pot , and how to really go about repotting a plant .
Repotting Houseplants
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Why Do Houseplants Need to be Repotted?
While each plant has unique needs , one characteristic remains dependable for all — plants have evolved to grow outdoors , commonly firmly frozen in the filth they grow in . In their rude arise surround , plant do confront some challenges . They may have to compete for “ root space ” with other flora , for representative , or their roots may be damaged by fungal infections . However , they generally have the blank they require to keep on produce , and the soil they grow in has nutrients added to it all the meter , both of course and ( often ) in the shape of fertilizer .
If you are caring for houseplants , it is promiscuous to leave that they need more than sun , territory , and water . They also necessitate quad to grow . The pots and container we place our houseplants in , or indeed the pots the plants derive in when we bought them , were in all likelihood enough at the showtime . As your plant extend to grow , however , that will no longer be the case .
neglect to repot a works that desperately needs to be repotted can leave in a number of problem , each of which is damaging to the plant life ’s health :
New Container
All problem that lead when a industrial plant urgently involve to be repot essentially result from one of these four factors — lack of space , poor and old soil , pests , and diseases .
Signs that Your Plant Is Screaming to Be Repotted
Most houseplants should be repot once every twelvemonth to year and a one-half to continue prosper — but there are exception , as some plants grow lento and happen repotting to be a nerve-wracking physical process . We would heartily recommend that you search into the individual indigence of the plant species you keep as houseplant to give them the best guardianship potential .
There are also , however , signs you’re able to count out for even without have a go at it how often a particular metal money of houseplant typically need to be repotted . Let ’s take a feel :
As a ecumenical rule , your houseplants will almost sure as shooting benefit from being repotted into a larger container if you have been keeping them in the same pot for years .
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How to Repot Your Houseplants: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you have determined that some — or even all — of your houseplants could benefit from repotting , but you have never repotted a plant before , the summons can be a little daunting . fortify with a step - by - step - guide , the outgrowth will be easier . Before you get start , keep in head that the idealistic metre to repot your plants stretch along from late winter to early outflow , while they are in general going through a inactive phase angle , so that you will not interrupt their upcoming growth time of year .
Do study all the way through before you get started , so that you know you have all the necessary equipment at manus !
Choosing a New Container for Your Houseplant
In some shell , you will want to target your flora in the same spate again — such as when there is still ample space , but the soil is old , or when you are trying to impede the plant life ’s growing . In these case , the quondam potful will necessitate to be cleaned thoroughly before repotting . You will also likely take to carry out antecedent pruning , which demand to be accompanied by pruning of the plant ’s stems , to ensure that the pot meets the plant ’s need .
If you are opting to grade your plant into a bigger potful , this whole step can be skip . Clay dope should , however , be soaked overnight before placing plants into them .
Remember that it is not a good idea to go from a pot that is clearly too little for the plant life to one that ’s excessively large — you would mostly be propose to choose a pot that is just one size self-aggrandising , and to repot your industrial plant again when the meter arrives .
Preparing The New Pot
Choosing the Right Potting Mix for Your Houseplant
Most houseplants will thrive in a unconstipated potting mix designed for houseplants , but some have specific soil requirements . Cacti and succulent need to be placed in cactus - favorable jumpy soil , for instance . Where in doubt , look into the good soil type for your plant life , and get the right amount for the bigger potbelly into which you are planning to place your plant .
Getting Your Houseplant Ready for Repotting
Before you do anything else , offer your plant some water to loosen the ground it is currently in , and allow this to settle for an 60 minutes . Once you have done this , you could continue by mildly twist the container while at the same time methodically pulling the plant life up from the base . If you could get some fingers between the land and the slew , without reach the flora ’s radical , the physical process will be less nerve-racking for your plant life . Keep going until the plant comes free from the soil .
Teasing the Old Soil Away From the Plant’s Roots
Using your ( clean ) fingers or a small implement like a fork , mildly tease away the plant ’s old soil from the root system . Go through this cognitive process in a slow and check manner ; you do not want to damage your houseplant ’s antecedent as you relax its quondam land .
If the root have become gravely compact , they will probably be circling the plant ’s solution ball rather thickly . To fix your plant for a bigger quite a little , with more growing space , you will need to separate them from the root musket ball . Do this very lightly and slowly .
Should you discover preindication of ancestor rot or your plant life ’s root are search insalubrious , or indeed if you are hoping to keep your plant small , go before and dress off the sick or spare roots .
Preparing the New Pot
Whether you choose a clay or credit card pot with drainage holes , most houseplant do not benefit from a rocky stratum at the very bottom , a practice that limits the space for beginning development . Instead , plainly fulfil the bottom of your chosen pot with the appropriate potting spiritualist .
Planting Your Houseplant in Its New Pot
Next , just place the already prepare plant life into the half - filled potting medium you have prepared . occupy in the border with more soil , and where appropriate , summate some compost , as well . Plants do n’t appreciate being planted more deep than they are used to , so check to see that you are imbed it equally deep as in the previous pot .
Once you are done adding soil , and your plant is more steadfastly in post , you’re able to go forwards and exploit the ground down into place , so that the plant is firmly placed in the potting medium you have fix for it .
Watering Your Houseplant
Now that your works is safely on the other side of the repotting adventure , it will postulate some water ! This will help to acclimate your plant life to the fresh grass , as well as causing the grunge to fall further . This is a deep lacrimation — keep adding more until water drain from the bottom of the unexampled pot ( but do n’t forget to empty the tray afterwards ! ) .
Caring for Your Newly Repotted Houseplant
Keep in mind that almost all commercial-grade potting mix ship with fertilizer already included . This is why it is important to refrain from fertilise your plant for around six weeks after repot . After that clip pass , you may go ahead and care for your plant as you did before .
You’re Done — Breathe a Sigh of Relief!
Repotting a plant can be scary , but you did it and learn that your plant did n’t just survive the process , but is fly high now that it has more growing room and goodly , alimentary - rich , stain . That was n’t so firmly , was it ? Now that you have done it once , you’re able to be confident about repotting your other houseplants in the future !
In Conclusion
Repotting houseplant is an all-important part of mature and care for them . Most plants should be repot once every 12 to 18 calendar month , and will visibly start out to tell you that they are not happy any more if you do n’t take this important step . When your plant lets you screw that it ’s fourth dimension for a bigger pot , listen — and it will give thanks you by showing you its most beautiful side .
