Good news: the process of repotting plants is a fairly simple one. Generally speaking, plants will require a repot either annually or at least every two years to keep them looking their best for years to come.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum), Swiss cheese (Monstera), Prayer plant (Calathea) and the Snake plant (Sansevieria) are just a few houseplants that are super easy to repot. Repotting cactus? 'There aren't any plants that are difficult to repot other than cacti but that is mainly due to the spines so wear very thick gloves when repotting them,' advises Claire Bishop, buyer at Dobbies Garden Centres.
There are a few simple ways to check whether your houseplant needs to be repotted:
• The plant looks too big for its pot. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to gradually increase pot sizes, so doing this as an annual job will encourage steady growth
• The roots are growing out of the drainage holes
• Water is sitting on the top and not absorbing
• The soil is dried out or looks like it is disintegrating
• It has been years since you repotted it.
How to repot a plant: step-by-step guide for repotting success
1. Remove your plant from its current pot
Turn your plant sideways, hold it gently by the stems or leaves, and tap the bottom of its current pot until the plant slides out. You may need to give it a couple of gentle tugs on the base of the stems.
2. Loosen the roots
Loosen the plant's roots gently with your hands. 'You can prune off any threadlike roots that are extra long, just make sure to leave the thicker roots at the base of the foliage. If your plant is root bound – the roots are growing in very tight circles around the base of the plant – unbind the roots as best you can and give them a trim,' advises Claire.
For plants that are root bound, make sure the new container is roughly 2 to 4 inches bigger in diameter, so it has space for new root growth.
3. Remove old potting mix
You should remove about one third or more of the potting mix surrounding the plant. As it grew, your plant removed some of the nutrients in the current mix, so you will want to give it a fresh mix if you are potting it anyway.
4. Add new potting mix
Pour a layer of fresh potting soil into the new planter and pack it down, removing any air pockets. 'If your new planter doesn’t have a drainage hole, layer the bottom with grit or similar drainage material before adding the potting mix,' says Claire. 'The goal is to create crevices for the extra water to pool into, away from your plant's roots.'
5. Add your plant
Set your plant that you removed from the pot on top of the fresh layer of mix in the new planter, making sure it's sitting in the centre, then add potting mix around the plant until it is secure. Claire warns: 'Be sure not to pack too much soil into the planter, as you want the roots to be able to breathe.'
House Beautiful's TIP: When you’re repotting it's important that the surface of the soil around the plant stays at the same level. Often called the nursery line, this is the point where the stem emerges from the soil. If you cover the stem in compost it will rot away. The nursery line should be about a centimetre below the edge of the new pot so there's space for watering.
6. Water and enjoy
Even out the potting soil on top and firm it down, water well, and enjoy watching your houseplant grow and thrive in its roomier container.
How to avoid transplant shock
Plants can suffer from transplant shock after repotting, which can result in a plant wilting and failing to thrive, which ultimately could kill the plant. To avoid this happening, Claire suggests the following:
• Make sure the new pot has sufficient drainage holes
• Place the plant in the exact same spot it used to inhabit so that it gets the same temperature and lighting conditions it had before
• Give the plant a dose of water-soluble, all-purpose plant food
• Finally, nip off all dead leaves and stem ends to make room for new parts to grow.
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