How to safely repot plants without killing them
This step-by-step guide will help you pot your houseplants with enough plant care. It includes information on snake plants, aloe and peace lilies.
Repotting can be daunting if you are new to caring for plants. There are many houseplants that are nearly impossible to kill. These include air plants, yuca plants and spider plant. However, there may be a time when you need a new pot. We have a step-by-step guide to how you can repot your plants.
As time goes by, some plants outgrow their owners. You should repot your baby plants approximately every 12-18 months. If your greenery is slow-growing, such as a cactus or a tree, repotting should be done every 2 to 4 years. We’ll show you how to keep your vegetation safe throughout and after this process. Also, check out these air purifying options for cats.
How to Repot Your Plants
Repotting a plant is easy and inexpensive. Here are some things you need to have in order to get started.
Your current plant (or a new plant if your room needs a change)
- Your Planter: If you have an older one, clean it before you start the repotting process. Fresh potting soil: It’s essential that your houseplant thrives by using fresh potting soil.
- Gloves: These will not only keep your hands clean but will help with any irritating plants such as Ficus elastica.
- A watering container: If your sink is not working, you might consider using a watering bottle or watering can.
- To keep your space clean, use a potting mat. You can also use the newspaper.
How to identify when your plant needs to be repotted
It is essential to identify the type of plants you have and how to care for them. This will help you determine how often your plant should be repotted.
- Nutrient accumulation: You may notice a buildup on the soil’s surface. This blocks water from reaching the roots.
- Roots that are too large: Pay attention to whether roots are reaching the drainage holes in your planter. You should also check if roots are pushing the plant from the pot.
- The plant has grown too large: This sign is easy to spot. It’s time for a new planter if the foliage grows too thick. If the plant is on the verge of tipping over, this applies as well.
- Soil compaction: Soil compaction occurs when the soil pieces are pressed together. This stops water from reaching the roots. You’ll also notice that the liquid sits on top of the soil instead of getting soaked in.
Here are some tips to repot your plants
Take the plant out of its original planter. Be gentle. Turn the plant sideways by holding onto its stems or leaves. Tap the bottom of the vessel until the plant falls out. Gently tug at the base of the stems if your greenery is not slipping out.
- Remove any roots that are too long. You can also trim the thicker roots at the base. Before trimming the roots, check to make sure they are not growing in circles around your plant’s base.
- Remove old potting mixture: When your baby plants grow, the nutrients are removed from their soil.
- Mix new potting soil: Put your new potting mixture into a planter. Then, sand it to get rid of any air pockets. If your pot does not have drainage holes, you can add lava rocks to the base to drain the water.
- Add your plants: Now, it’s time for you to put your new or existing plant in its pot. Before placing the new layer of the potting mixture on top, make sure that your plant is properly centered. Add more potting mix to your plant to secure it.
Don’t add too much soil to your pot. Your roots won’t have enough room to breathe.