Taking care of your plants is often a challenge, especially when it comes to repotting them. When is the right time? We give you 7 tips with guaranteed success to know when and how to best repot your green roommates.
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They beautify our own four walls and often give us more well-being, especially when we take care of them: Houseplants play the role of green roommates.
Repotting is part of their maintenance, especially for young plants. It allows them to develop their roots optimally and thus grow in good health. But when is it necessary to repot?
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The plant shows you this by itself. To do this, all you have to do is carefully remove the plant from its pot. If its roots fill the entire pot, or even exceed it and occupy most of the soil, it is time to repot it.
If you also find encrusted white soil or white deposits on the clay pot, the watering water may be too hard or the plant may have received too much fertilizer. In this case, you must also repot your plant.
Like humans, plants are constantly evolving: their roots are continually growing, constantly seeking new nutrients and more space. If the old pot becomes too small for the root system, a lack of nutrients and limited growth results.
What should I pay attention to when repotting? 7 tips
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You can’t go wrong when repotting, but there are some basic rules to follow, such as the age of the plant and its growth behavior. Besides these two things, the season is also important.
1. Choose the right time
But it’s not just in spring that some plants need a change of pot. It is enough to observe from time to time, while watering, how the roots of the houseplant develop.
The plant also shows its growth behavior above ground. Is it growing quickly, are new leaves forming in large numbers? All of these are signs that a new pot is needed.
2. Find the right pot
It is not only the size of the plant that is decisive, but also the size of the new pot. This one should not be more than four centimeters larger than the old one. If the new pot is too large, the excess soil may accumulate moisture, causing the roots to rot.
Also make sure that your plant grows in width or depth. Plants with deep roots, such as orchids, for example, tend to need a tall flowerpot.
3. Mix the best soil
Plants are demanding, especially when it comes to soil. For them, not all land is equal. When planted in an unsuitable substrate, they may suffer from nutrient deficiencies, root rot, or other problems.
Depending on the plant, other soil is needed. Don’t worry, you can easily mix it yourself at home.
The following aspects are important:
Each plant species has a different preference when it comes to soil pH, permeability, and nutrient composition. Cacti, for example, prefer well-permeable soil with low water retention capacity, but richer in minerals.
Air permeability and drainage of the soil are especially important when dealing with stagnant moisture. Drainage is a system used to evacuate excess water from the soil. It can consist of a series of layers of materials such as expanded clay, gravel or even sand.
In general, it is recommended to mix the soil with sand, as this prevents water stagnation. How to do ? By aerating the soil, which allows better aeration of the roots.
The proportions of the soil mixture again depend entirely on the needs of the plant: For a houseplant that prefers good drainage, the proportion of sand in the mixture should be higher. For a plant that needs more consistent humidity conditions, the proportion of sand may be lower.
If you are still looking for your green thumb and would like to make sure of it, you can also use special products.
Those who are still looking for their green thumb and would prefer to make sure of it once again can also purchase specialized substrates. These are already tailored to the needs of a specific plant.
4. Remove the plant from the old pot
Once the larger pot is prepared, including a thick layer of soil mix, repotting can begin. To do this, gently tap against the old pot to aerate the houseplant, so you can remove it more easily.
To do this, it is best to hold it by the stem or by several leaves at the same time. Do not under any circumstances pull too hard on the plant, as you do not want to harm it, but do it good. Also be careful not to damage the roots, although this is not always easy.
5. Clean the roots
Sometimes it can happen that the soil in the old pot is infested with parasites such as Sciarids. A case where it becomes necessary to rid the roots of old soil.
But this step is also recommended when repotting. The best way to clean the roots is to gently shake them or submerge them in a little water. You can of course also help yourself with your other hand.
6. Put the plant in place
Now carefully place the houseplant in the new pot and fill it with the appropriate potting soil or prepared potting mix. Make sure the plant is planted at the same depth as before. Then, pack the soil lightly to avoid air pockets.
7. Careful watering and subsequent maintenance
Once the houseplant is well established in the bottom of the new pot, it must be watered. You must moisten the soil abundantly so that it settles and any air pockets are eliminated.
If the houseplant felt good in its old location, don’t hesitate to leave it there. If the leaves have suffered “burn” in the form of brown areas, the plant should be placed away from light. Most plants, however, prefer locations with sufficient daylight.
