Give your indoor plants some more room so they’ll keep on thriving.
Many houseplants require repotting into a larger container every so often to help themcontinue growing in a healthy way.
These tips will help you repot all your houseplants successfully.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
How to Tell If Your Houseplant Needs Repotting
Not sure when it’s time to repot?
Roots starting to poke out of thepot’s drainage holesis a sure sign.
Water immediately running through the pot instead of getting absorbed could signal its repotting time.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
You should also consider repotting houseplants that have become infested with insects.
Somepests, like fungus gnats, hide in potting soil so refreshing that can help control the bugs.
A thirsty plant is a stressed plant, and alreadyunhappy houseplantswon’t adjust well to the move.
Plus, a damp root ball will be easier to work with than a dry one.
You’llneed a new potthat’s 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter than the plant’s root ball.
Going too much larger just wastes potting mix and can throw off the proportions of the plant tothe container.
Then, follow these simple steps to repot your houseplant.
Then, loosen tightly bound roots with your fingers.
It’s okay if some roots break off or soil falls away from the root ball as you work.
Gently press down on the soil and tuck in any stray roots.
Addslow-release plant foodif you wish.
Water Well
Water thoroughly after repottingto help the soil settle around your plant’s roots.
Plenty of moisture will also help your plant recover from the move better.
