Reasons to repot a houseplant
- a larger bucket stimulates growth
- the earth can store more water
- new substrate provides new nutrients
- the root ball has more space to expand
- aesthetic reasons (no stocky growth)
Tips
Regular repotting will not only benefit your houseplant, it will also save you a few maintenance measures. For example, you have to water the plant less due to the better water storage capacity or you can stop the fertilization for a while due to the higher nutrient supply.
The right time
The best time to repot a houseplant is in spring. The plant is now in the growth phase and immediately uses the optimized conditions for the formation of new roots.
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Then better not repot
You should let flowering house plants bloom first. During this time, the plant puts all its strength into flowering. Repotting now would result in shock.
Sometimes repotting a plant in winter is unavoidable. Newly purchased specimens should be planted in a larger container immediately after purchase. You must be particularly careful when you are resting. If you damage the roots, your houseplant will not recover as well as it would at any other time of the year.
When should you repot?
Like the upper part of the plant, the volume of the root ball is constantly increasing. If there is no more space in the pot, the roots will suffocate. The first sign of a lack of space are aerial roots that sprout out of the earth. A sickly impression (e.g. yellow, dry leaves) also indicates the urgency of changing the bucket. The rhythm in which you repot your houseplant depends on the individual growth rate.
Repotting indoor plants - instructions
- The new pot should have about 20% more volume than the old one
- Install a drainage layer made of granules or Expanded clay(€ 16.36 at Amazon *) in the new planter
- Carefully dig up the plant
- Put them in the center of the new pot
- Fill the remaining space to the edge with soil
- The substrate should not end with the edge of the bucket, but end 1 to 2 cm below it
- This is important to prevent overflow when watering
- To prevent your plants from drying out in a sunny location, you can add the soil Mulch(€ 13.95 at Amazon *) cover
- Water the substrate according to the needs of the plant
Tips
When repotting, check the root ball for moldy or dry roots and remove them generously. On top of that, repotting always offers a good opportunity to multiply the plant by dividing it.
