How to Repot Plants | Country Living

Maybe your favorite pothos isn’t looking so hot lately, or maybe you just want to get rid of that ugly green planter your snake plant or philodendron got in. Either way, it’s time to repot!

Repotting a plant isn’t difficult, but you don’t want to just rip out some of its greenery and stuff it in a new container. Here we show you how to tell if your plant needs repotting and how to do it in a way that ensures maximum success.

How do I know if a plant needs to be repotted?

There are some signs that your plant needs a new home. If the Roots stick out the bottom of the planter or encircle On the surface, the plant appears top-heavy and easily falls over or falls over Potting soil dries out quickly and you have to water more and more often, it’s time to repot.

You can also repot if you feel like your plant just isn’t growing like it used to, or if it doesn’t look as lively as it used to. Even if it doesn’t need a bigger pot, refreshing the potting medium can bring it back to life.

If possible, it’s best to repot when your plant is actively growing. For most houseplants, this is the same time of year that all other plants grow, usually from early spring to late summer. But it’s okay to repot anytime you need to. The exception is if your plant has just come from the nursery; Travel can be stressful for all of us (plants included!) so give her a few weeks to adjust before disturbing the roots.

What size pot should I use for repotting?

It’s best to increase the size by about 2 inches, meaning if your plant is currently in an 8 inch pot go up to 10 inches. Because in a pot that is too big, the roots cannot absorb the water fast enough and the plant can drown. For taller soil plants, consider making the pot about 4 inches taller.

Most importantly, Make sure your new pot has holes in the bottom for drainage. No plant likes to stay wet and will die quickly from damp roots. The old-school suggestion of placing rocks at the bottom of a pot without holes to improve drainage is a myth. Soil scientists have found that water doesn’t move easily from layers of finely textured materials (like potting soil) to layers of coarser texture (gravel, pebbles, whatever). This means the water will stand there and eventually drown your plant! If you want to use a decorative pot without holes, simply place a smaller pot with drainage holes in the decorative pot.

How to repot a plant

Before you begin you will need some materials: A Workplace (You can do it outside or cover your counter with an old box or potting soil); fresh potting soil; a small troweland a new pot. If you are reusing an old pot, first clean it with soapy water, then rinse and dry well. And if you don’t want dirt under your nails gloves are also a good idea. Now you are ready to repot.

That’s how it’s done:

1. Turn the pot on its side and hold the plant by the stems close to the ground. If it seems to be sticking, use your trowel to work along the inside edges of the pot and loosen. (If it Yes, really stuck, water it a little and wait a few minutes.) Now try to ease it out of the pot. If roots are sticking out of the holes in the ground, cut them off to make it easier to wiggle the plant out.
2. If the plant is root bound — meaning the roots are tightly wrapped around the plant — loosen it up as much as possible by roughening the surface with your hand before repotting. You can also Cut off some of the overly long roots. It won’t harm the plant (we promise!) but will encourage it to send out new roots.
3. Remove some of the old soil and then place the plant in the new pot at the same depth as it was Place in the old pot and fill with fresh potting soil. You don’t need to add fertilizer to the new potting soil; Most store-bought soil contains enough nutrients to last a few months. Pour well and enjoy your fresh new look!