Re-Potting, Step By Step

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Re-Potting, Step By Step (I promise)

 

1) First you'll need to identify pot-bound plants. Gently roll or tap

the container to loosen the plant and gently ease it out. Tip: Dry

soil tends to hang onto the inner walls of the container, so watering

your plant help grease the skids a little. Catch it in your other

hand, with the foliage peeking between your fingers and the surface

of the root ball supported in your palm. If the plant is a giant one,

such as a fern, fig, or avocado tree, lay it over onto a tarp or

newspapers spread on the floor.

 

Tired of bugs buzzing around?

Yellow sticky traps provide a safe method for trapping aphids,

thrips, fungus gnats, whiteflies and more. They are Ideal for indoor

and outdoor plants and are one of my must-have garden solutions.

(Fortunately, bugs go for them, too.) You can buy them through my

online catalog. A set includes nine, 3x5-inch sticky traps, 3 wire

holders and complete instructions. $7.00 per set. To see how

effective they are, check out this photo. (WARNING: Not for the

squeamish!)

They are worth every dime, believe me!

 

 

2) With your fingers, carefully loosen the roots at the base and

along the sides of the root ball. At this point, many experts say to

use a knife to split the lower third of the root ball to encourage

new roots to grow outward and down, rather than to keep spiraling. I

say, put the knife away and use your fingers. Using a knife to hack

and slash at a plant's root system is overkill. If you find any dead

or damaged roots however, use pruning shears to trim them off.

 

3) Center the plant in the new, larger container, making sure it's

upright. There's nothing like going through the whole process only to

gaze at your plant a month later to see that it's leaning in one

direction. Buy a high quality potting soil and adjust the soil level

so the top of the root ball is about 1/2 inch below the rim of the

pot; more for larger plants. Using your hand, sift new potting soil

in around the plant and firm it with your fingers. Tip: Those

flexible cutting boards makes the job of sifting soil around the

plant easier, and cleaner!

 

 

Water the plant until water runs out of the drainage holes. This will

help settle the soil and give it good contact with the roots. Add

more soil if necessary.

 

Re-potting your indoor plants is like sending it to a health spa. It

really improves overall plant health. We tend to ignore indoor

plants, treating them like green statues, until they look so awful

there's no way you can not see them. Take some time this year to make

a difference in your houseplant's life!