Knowing the right way how to repot plants is crucial. Plants can die just because you repot it the wrong way. There comes a time when your plants outgrow pots, that is when you need to trim and place them in other pots. Leaving house plants unattended can mean they either break away from the pots or it looks unpleasant to see.
How to Repot Plants On 7 Easy Steps
There are several steps you need to follow to make sure houseplants are safely repot to other pots. You can potentially make the plant die which is something that we always try to prevent. Here is the best way that you can repot plants safely.
1. Remove the Plant from the Planter or Grow Pot
The first thing you need to do is take out the plant from its pot. The best way to do this is by turning the plant sideways. You can hold it by the stems or leaves, and tap the bottom gently. You probably need to use some force to get the whole plant out, especially if the root has been on the base for too long.
You can use a shovel to make room for the plants to be able to get out of the pot. Using a plastic pot also can be handy. You can squeeze off the pot and hope that the soil can loosen easily. Check underneath the pot for roots that have tangled and sprout out from the hole in the bottom.
2. Loosen the Roots
If you wonder how to repot plants quickly, it all depends on how stuffed the plants are. After you get the plants out of their pot, then you need to loosen the roots with your hands. You can wiggle the threadlike roots, trim some of them and leave the thicker roots.
You can massage the roots from the bottom gently. Don’t pull out the root by force. You can end up killing the plants because they don’t have any roots or at least the root that you wanted. After all, it is the main root of the plant.
3. Trim The Plant
Too many leaves, and roots can be unappealing. When you repot plants, you need to make sure that you trim them in all the right places. This means, getting rid of any dead leaves, mushy branches, or excessively long roots with sharp scissors. You also can rub each snip and leaves to avoid bacteria.
You can repot one plant and end up with two or three plants. Before putting the plants in a new pot, make sure you have already trimmed all the necessary parts. The last thing you wanted is repot the pot that you just moved from a pot. Make sure it has all the roots, leaves, and branches before you will repot them again.
4. Remove the Old Potting Mixture
When you report a plant, you don’t just move the leaves and root. You also need to remove the soil mixture. One-third or more of the old solid mixture around the roots needs to go. This way, you give the removed plant some of the nutrients from the old pot with new soil to grow.
You can add a new mixture to freshen the soil. It is always advisable to repot your plant to a larger pot from the previous one. That way you give the plants a lot of room to grow. Fill the bottom of your pot with fresh soil and maybe with some fertilizer. After that, remove the old soil and replace it with a new one.
5. Add New Potting Mix
You have your plant in a new pot. You need to make sure that it has enough soil and also drainage paths so the plants won’t have too much water. You can pour a layer of fresh soil into the pot and pat it down. You also need to make sure that there are no air pockets left.
Planters or pots with no drainage holes can be replaced with a layer of soil and rocks or gravel to create crevices in the pot. That way, the extra water will have someplace to go. It will not drown your roots and make them die. Of course, the best way to repot is to have a drainage hole and have plants with soil only.
6. Add Plant
The best way to repot plants is the way you put the plants in the soil. You need to set your plant above the fresh soil and make sure the position is centered. You need to make room for the root to set. You can make a hole in the middle and put the plant in.
After that, you can add more soil around the plant until the plant can stand still. You don’t need excessive soil in the pot, because you want the roots to breathe. There should be adequate space around the root so the solid is nice and cozy and not too tight.
7. Water The Repot Plant
Like animals, plants can be stressful in a new environment. Therefore, you need to freshen up the plant with ample water right away. Make sure that you don’t put too much water and make the new plant die due to overflowing water.
Your plant needs less watering after repot. You can try the first few weeks with minimum water and let the plant set in with its new home. Your repot plant has more soil which means a better ability to absorb water. When you see that the plants grow nicely, then you can water them with more water and more often.
Read also : How to Care For Indoor Plants?
There you have it! some steps on how to repot plants. It is very easy to follow and you don’t need too many tools to do it yourself. Just make sure to follow all the steps one by one as mentioned above.