Repotting Your Plants

Congratulations, Plant Parent!

You’ve successfully managed to find the right balance of water, sunlight, fertiliser, and other microclimatic environmental factors to have a healthy and rewarding relationship with your plants. Not only are your plants alive and thriving, they have now outgrown the plastic pot they came in when you purchased them from the nursery. Or perhaps, you’re repotting for aesthetics – you simply want to trade up to a stylish new planter. Whatever the case, it’s time to undertake the task of repotting your beloved plants. Knowing how (and when!) to correctly repot your plant babies is a must for all plant parents!

 

Fret not, World Farmers, we’ll walk you through all the steps to help you successfully rehome your plants (hopefully without killing them!), and at the same time reduce plant shock and repotting stress, ensuring your plants stay happy and healthy in their new home.

There are 7 easy steps, plus tips that we will share in this article, so read on!

 

But before that, let’s understand that repotting does not necessarily mean changing the current pot a plant is in. It can also mean changing the plant’s soil or potting mix. Fresh soil equals to new nutrients for your plant babies! This is perfect for if you love the current pot your plant is in, but if you’re looking to upsize the pot, keep in mind that the size increase should be less than 2 inches in diameter for tabletop pots, and less than 4 inches in diameters for floor ones. Why is this important? Simply put, the larger the pot is, the more soil is required, and this may then cause you to be inclined to water more often. That means: small plant + oversized pot + a lot of soil + overwatering = accidentally killing your plants with kindness. Not good!

 

BUT HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO REPOT YOUR PLANTS?

In its natural environment, plants typically grow in the ground and their roots will spread out for stability as well as to search for food and water. When placed in an artificially-constrained environment, such as a plant pot, over time the roots are eventually going to get strangled upon themselves due to the lack of space. As such, repotting is something every plant parent will have to accomplish sooner or later!

 

Typically, plants will need to be repotted every 12 to 18 months, depending on how actively they are growing. Slow-growing plants can sit in the same pot for much longer, only needing soil replacement every now and then. That said, you should not change the soil in houseplants more often than once a year. The soil simply needs to be amended to ensure the dirt drains well and there are enough nutrients in the soil, because old potting soil can often become compacted and shrink away from the sides of the pot.

Look out for these signs your houseplants are showing to know when it’s time to change its pot:

• • plant roots are growing through the drainage holes

• • plant roots are showing on the surface of the potting mix

• • plant roots are pushing the plant up and out of the pot

• • your plant has stopped growing, or is growing slower than normal

• • the potting mix has dried out significantly and ‘slumped’ in the pot

• • water is pooling on top of the potting mix and is no longer being absorbed

• • your plant is extremely heavy and falls over easily

• • your plant dries out more quickly than usual, requiring more frequent waterings

• • noticeable salt and mineral build-up on the plant or the surface of the soil
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HOW DO I REPOT MY PLANTS?

Before you begin, here’s what you’ll need to have ready:

• • your plant (of course!)

• • the new plant pot you’re potting into – make sure it has drainage holes!

• • fresh potting mix

• • newspaper or gardening mat for easy clean-up

• • a trowel

• • top dressing, such as leca or something similar, is optional

• • gloves (optional)

• • a small piece of netting (optional)

• • lava rocks (if your new pot does not have drainage holes)

• • watering can for watering after

(Note: You may wish to place a piece of netting inside the new pot before adding new potting mix to cover the pot- hole.) This helps to prevent soil leakage but is an optional step, so it’s okay if you wish to skip this.)

 

 

Step 1: Pour a layer of fresh potting mix in the new pot

This is for the roots to grow into. How much you put in depends on the desired height of the plant in the new pot. Ideally, the crown of the plant should be just at the lip of the pot. Pack the soil down, to remove any air pockets. Whilst we strongly advocate using pots with drainage holes for the best results, we understand that you may end up using pots without drainage holes at some point. If your new plant pot does not have drainage holes, layer the bottom with lava rocks or similar before adding the potting mix. The aim is to create crevices for the extra water to pool into, away from your plant’s roots.

 

Step 2: Gently remove your plant from its current pot

To do this, 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 wish to use a trowel in between the edge of the pot and the soil so the plant will slide out more easily. Some plants are pretty firmly attached to their pots and it can take a while to loosen them, so you can give your plant a couple of gentle tugs on the base of the stems. Just keep at it until the soil slides out when you tip the pot on its side. As it comes out, gently grasp around the soil or at the base of the plant to steady it as you slide the pot off.

Step 3: Loosen the roots and massage the root ball

With your hands, loosen the roots gently. Start at the bottom, and start teasing the roots away from the coils they have created within the pot. We want these roots to be free to grow and absorb water, air, and nutrients. You can prune off any threadlike roots that are dead or extra-long, making sure to leave the thicker roots at the base of the foliage. If your plant is root bound, meaning the roots are growing in very tight circles around the base of the plant, unbind the roots as gently and as best as you can without damaging the roots.

Step 4: Remove old potting mix

Remove old potting mix surrounding the plant. In the absence of a soil food web, the nutrients from the old soil would have been removed as your plant grew, so you’ll want to give it fresh potting mix!

Step 5: Set your plant into the new pot

Set your plant on top of the fresh layer of mix in the new pot, making sure it is centered. Next, add potting mix around the plant until it is secure and anchored down. Be sure not to pack too much soil too tightly into the planter, as you want the roots to breathe.

Step 6: Even it out

Even out the potting soil on top, making sure to leave some space just below the lip of the pot, or about an inch for larger pots. Avoid piling soil all the way up to the top of the pot. You will not be able to water it properly, as water will rush off the sides of the pot without ever soaking in.

Optional: You may wish to add top dressing to your soil, such as decorative pebbles, Leca, or even Akadama, which are clay mineral granules that can indicate when the soil is dry.

Step 7: Water, and you’re all set!

Water it thoroughly and let it drain. This last step is crucial. Newly transplanted plants are suffering from a bit of stress, and they need ample water right away.

And VOILA, you’ve repotted your plant!

It’s worth mentioning that a freshly repotted plant does not need to be fed fertiliser. In fact doing so can be detrimental to the plant’s health. You might also notice that your plant needs watering less often in the first few weeks after repotting. That’s because it has more soil around it that can absorb water. As it grows roots to fill the soil, it will need watering more often.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO REPOT PLANTS INCORRECTLY?

Most plants will thrive in their new homes, but those that have been repotted incorrectly can suffer from repotting stress. When a plant suffers from wilted leaves, dropped or yellowing leaves, or failure to thrive after repotting, it’s usually caused by the way it was treated during the repotting process.

Another reason could be that the plant was repotted at the wrong time. Plants are especially vulnerable right before they begin to bloom, so always avoid repotting in the growth season. Other causes for repotting stress are using a different type of potting soil than the plant previously lived in, placing the plant under different lighting conditions after repotting, and even leaving the roots exposed to air for any length of time during repotting.

CAN YOU TREAT REPOTTING STRESS?

You can cure a plant that’s suffering from repotting stress, but it takes care and time for it to heal. The best way to save your plant and help it recover is to give it the ultimate pampering treatment. Place the plant in the exact same spot it used to be in so that it gets the same temperature and lighting conditions it had before. Give the plant a dose of water-soluble plant revitaliser like the HB-101. Finally, trim off all dead leaves and stem ends to make room for new parts to grow.

SHOULD I REPOT PLANTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER BUYING?

We get it, sometimes you bring a new plant home, but it’s also looking a little big for its pot, which makes you wonder if it’s time to repot it. But our advice is, you shouldn’t repot a plant right after you get it. Here’s why: Your new plant has been on quite the journey already! Think about it. The plants at the nursery or garden center have likely traveled hundreds or thousands of miles to get there. They will then go through a recovery period or an acclimation period. Depending on how long the plant has been at the nursery, it is possible that your new plant is still pretty stressed out when you brought it home. Why let it re-acclimatise twice?

 

However, if you’re insistent on repotting your new houseplant, then do it as soon as you get it. The plant is already in a stressed state, so it’s better to momentarily prolong the stress rather than let the plant recover and stress it out again months later.

We hope you’ve found this guide for repotting plants to be helpful. If you’re still lacking the confidence to repot your plants by yourself, we’re here to help you! Bring your plant down to our garden centerw, and let us take the repotting anxiety away! (Tip: Try to avoid weekends and public holidays to avoid long waits!) Speak to any of our friendly team members to find out about our repotting services and charges.

With that, we’ve come to the end of this week’s guide on how to Repot your Plants.

Till then, World Farmers