Your houseplants are growing so well but actually he is now growing out of his jacket a bit. So time for a new potdecorative pots† In this blog you can read tips and we explain how you can best make your green rascal happy with his new pot.
Choose a new pot
Choose a pot 20% larger than it is in now. In this it has enough space to root again and to grow. If your houseplant is in a plastic indoor pot, choose one that is 20% larger than the previous pot.
The advantage of a plastic inner pot is that excess water remains in the decorative pot so that the plant cannot drown. The use of hydro granules is recommended when you place the plant directly in the pot. These granules ensure good water drainage so that your plant cannot drown quickly.
Potting soil
Always add a new layer when repotting potting soil Add to the soil and top it up around the plant if necessary. New potting soil contains nutrients that your plant needs after repotting in order to continue rooting strongly.
Choose good potting soil that is important for your houseplant. Such as Cactus Soil, Orchid Soil, Palm Soil, etc. Every plant has different needs such as certain nutritional value or lightness. A succulent plant or cactus needs a well-draining soil with added sand. But a palm needs a mixture of peat, peat cubes, peat litter and terracotta. As a result, the soil dries out less quickly. So take into account the plant that you are going to repot and get advice from a specialist.
The ideal period
It is best to repot your houseplants in the spring, between March and June. This is the best time because during this time plants get more energy and are stronger to handle this job. Do you have flowering houseplants? Then repot it after the flowering period. Doing this during flowering can lead to a shorter flowering period.
Of course there are exceptions. If your plant has fallen or is sick and it is necessary to repot it immediately, this is recommended. Try to stretch it further until spring as much as possible.
How do you know when a plant needs to be repotted?
- The plant stops growing and the leaves discolour. The discoloration of the leaf can have several reasons, eg too much or too little light, too much or too little water. But also when the plant no longer has room to grow.
- The roots come through the inner pot. Lift your plant out of its decorative pot once and sometimes you will see the roots growing through the pot. So this is certainly a good reason to repot your plant.
- The plant falls over because it no longer has enough soil. Some plants grow quite tall. When they are in a 'small' pot, the stems are too heavy and it is time to put the plant in a larger pot.
- There are new cuttings with the mother plant. This is of course very nice. Your mother plant makes plant babies! But there is not room for the whole family, so a number of the little ones will have to be in another pot. NB! Wait until the baby plants have developed enough roots to stand on their own in a pot.
- The potting soil dries out too quickly. You can see this because you have to water more often than usual. Old potting soil sometimes needs to be replaced, even if your plant can still remain in its pot. Then remove your plant from the pot and free the roots from soil, add new potting soil and make sure the plant is firmly in its pot again.
Repot in the same size pot
It is possible that your plant has already reached a maximum size or that you do not have room for a larger pot, for example. But this plant also needs extra care every now and then. The potting soil loses its airiness and moisture-absorbing effect and it is therefore important to give these plants new potting soil as well. Remove the plant from the pot and remove as much soil as possible from around the root system. Break off a few roots, don't panic, the plant can handle it just fine. Try to damage as little roots as possible. Then put the plant back in the fresh soil and water it right away. Your plant will now take root in the new soil and in this way you have repotted your plant without putting it in a larger pot.
Directly in the decorative pot
There are several ways to repot. One of these is to place the plant directly in the decorative pot. There are a number of drawbacks to this. Because there is soil up to the bottom of the pot, all the excess water runs to this. The soil on top of the pot may feel dry while the roots at the bottom of the pot are submerged. This causes root rot to form and if this is in an advanced stage, your plant can often no longer survive.
TIP: if you still want to use this method, it is wise to use terracotta pots. There is a hole at the bottom through which the excess water can drain away and the pot also lets moisture through the sides so that the plant does not remain damp for too long.
The use of hydro granules is also recommended. These clay granules serve as a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.
Use an inner pot
The best method for repotting remains to use an inner pot. The plant is already included in this when you purchase it. If you are going to repot, look for an inner pot that is slightly larger. In this way, the excess water runs through the inner pot into the decorative pot. It stays in this and you can pour it out again.
TIP: if the inner pot sinks too much, apply a layer of hydro granules.
Good luck with repotting your green rascals!
