Repotting houseplants may appear to be an easy job, however there is always a risk that your plants may not do well in the wake of repotting. Repotting shouldn’t be done randomly or too often. The repotting of plants can bring many problems you should be aware of. You need to know how to protect your plants from the unwanted impacts of repotting.
Before repotting
Before you choose to repot your plants, it’s imperative to put forth a couple of essential inquiries about your plants. Inspect your plants cautiously and note how they’re doing. You shouldn’t repot your plants if there is nothing wrong with them. Watch for specific signs so you’ll realize when it’s the time to repot them.
Repot your plants if:
- The plant dries out rapidly so more water is required.
- The plant experience slower than ordinary development during the growing season.
- Roots come out the base of the pot.
- The roots are a tangled mass.
- The plant has outgrown the top.
- The pot doesn’t appear to have the capacity to support the plant.
- Water runs rapidly through the pot and out the base. (It happens when there’s not enought soil to get the dampness).
- The top of the soil is stained. (This shows a salt development, which can harm the roots).
If you experience some of these signs, it’s probably a good time to repot your plants!
Repotting tips
1. Use a pot of the appropriate size
It’s essential to pick a pot that is of proper size for the plant. For example, you should never pot a 6 inch plant into a 14 inch pot. In the event that you do this, you will end up with a compost pile. The new pot you pick should be just around 1 to 2 inches bigger in diameter than the pot you’re using in the moment. This will give enough space for the roots to develop.
2. Drainage
While repotting, drainage is probably the most important factor you should consider. It’s significant for the strength of the recently repotted plant. As a matter of fact, try not to choose simply adding two inches of clay pot shards or gravel on the bottom of the pot. This will just raise the wettest zone of the soil profile closer to the roots of the plant. What’s more, it will actually increase the risk of root rot due to the absence of oxygen. To guarantee great drainage, it’s critical that a pot has good drainage holes.
3. Choose the right soil
It is very important to pick the sort of soil reasonable for the plant species and assortment. If you need to repot fleshy-rooted plants – Rubber Tree, for example, it’s ideal to utilize a coarse-textured soil with large particles of drainage material, (for example, coarse Perlite). Ensure that particles are around 1/4″ in size. This will guarantee great drainage and root development. It will likewise decrease the opportunity of overwatering.
Fine-rooted plants, for example, African violets, begonias and numerous other small plants should be planted in fine-textured soilless blends made of processed sphagnum peatmoss, vermiculite and “horticultural grade” perlite. Such a mix will successfully hold moisture somewhat longer, which is perfect for their delicate roots.
4. Take care of the roots
When repotting, it’s imperative to provoke the roots out of the round and hollow root ball shape. This is exceptionally useful for accelerating the development and spreading of new roots into the new, fresh medium. How to do this? Simply cut away large coils of roots that have grown around the bottom of the old pot. You may likewise score the root ball vertically with a sharp blade in a few spots. Try to cut into the root ball around an inch when you cut start to finish.
It’s essential to be delicate and to move the plant into the new pot cautiously. Pour a couple of inches of the potting mix on the base of the new pot. Set the root ball over the new potting mix. Gently (but firmly) tamp down the mix. Do it until the dirt is even with the highest point of the plant’s original root ball. It should also be about 1/2 to 1 inch below the rim of the new pot.
After you’ve finished repotting the plant, give it a decent watering. Place it away from direct sunlight for the first couple of weeks.
