How to repot houseplants without killing them - The Washington Post

If you want to maintain a healthy plant, making sure it gets enough light and water is only part of the equation. Over time, a houseplant outgrows its pot and you need to transplant it into a new pot.

Knowing when and how to do this is important for several reasons. A larger pot leaves more room for roots to grow, and the extra soil adds important nutrients to a plant's environment. But transplanting too early can sometimes damage a plant, especially when it is in a period of slow growth or dormancy.

Here's how and when to repot your houseplants, according to the experts.

time matters

The first time you should bring your plant home is a few weeks after you've brought it into your space, says New York-based plant expert and stylist Maryah Greene . Many stores sell houseplants in plastic pots, which are not ideal environments for long-term growth. You don't know how old the earth is and the containers are often too small.

Greene suggests letting the plant acclimate to its native environment for a few weeks (the transition from nursery to home can be stressful for a plant) and then transplanting it into a larger pot. "You can tell the plant in your house is happy and ready for a new pot when it has put out one to three new leaves," she says.

You also need to transplant a plant when it starts to outgrow your home. Roots sticking out of a pot's drain hole are a sure sign it's time for a change. Christopher Satch, a horticultural expert in New York who runs the Plant Doctor website and works for plant delivery service Horti , says the pot should typically measure ⅓ of the plant's total height from the ground. When the plant itself is more than ⅔ the height, it's time to repot it. Not all plants grow; some grow fuller or longer (think trailing strains). However, the same rule applies: consider repotting if the plant seems to be outgrowing your home, says Greene.

Water retention in the soil is another sign that a plant needs repotting, as overcrowded plants may not absorb as much water if there isn't enough soil, says Matt Aulton, co-founder of plant delivery service Plant Proper . Plants that have outgrown their pots can also shed larger, older leaves each time a new leaf grows. "It's like survival of the fittest," says Greene.

In general, says Aulton, you can expect to repot a growing plant about once a year. Some plants grow faster than others, Greene says, including Monstera deliciosa , pothos, and philodendron, so you may need to relocate them sooner. And the time of year doesn't matter much, experts say; It's more important to look for signs that a single plant is ready for a new home. Many houseplants don't grow as tall in winter, so repotting may not be necessary during this time.

Choose your materials

As a general rule, Greene suggests choosing a new pot that is one to two inches larger in diameter than your current one. Many pots come in uniform sizes (e.g. four inches or six inches), so it may be easier to line up two inches. Try to find a pot that has holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain. (Too much water can cause roots to rot.) But if you find a pot you like that doesn't have holes, you can add a layer of lava rock. The rocks keep the plant from standing in water for long periods of time, Greene says, and allow the roots to absorb water when needed.

Don't worry too much about the type of flooring you choose. Satch says most houseplants do well in store-bought potting mixes like Miracle-Gro. "Plants grown as houseplants are versatile, so they don't need fancy soil to grow in," he says. If you're looking to upgrade, Greene suggests trying the FoxFarm brand, which contains enough nutrients for most plants, retains moisture well, and is light enough for oxygen to reach plant roots.

How do you

Once you have a pot and some fresh soil, it's time to transplant. If you plan to use rocks, add enough to fill the bottom quarter of the pot, then cover with a layer of fresh soil. Otherwise, just add soil to the bottom of the pot. Satch suggests compacting the soil well and then adding a looser layer of soil on top to adjust the plant's height.

Lay the plant on its side on a cloth (or unroll it). Hold the bottom of the pot and gently shake the plant. "You want to loosen it up without fighting too hard to keep it from breaking," says Satch. Remove as much old soil as possible, then use your fingers to untangle the bottom inch or two of the roots, which Satch says will stimulate the plant's growth hormones.

Set the plant on top of the soil in the new pot, then pour new soil around it while holding it and gently pressing it down with your fingers as you water. You know the ground is narrow enough, Greene says, when you can put weight on it and your fingers don't disappear into the ground like quicksand.

Satch suggests leaving an inch or two between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot.

Finally, water your newly transplanted plant well. Roots that are exposed to air can dry out quickly, Satch says.

Ashley Abramson is a freelance writer based in Wisconsin.

Try Adblock (Why?)