How To Repot A Plant

Ensure all roots are covered by soil and none are exposed before moving on to the next step. Gently shake the excess soil off when transferring your plant from one vessel to the other, being careful not damage its roots. First off, the main benefit is that they capture the excess water that comes out from your plant pot.

Use that leftover pasta or potato water and dump it straight on those tough weeds. In concentrations this strong, vinegar becomes hazardous and can cause environmental damage. Vinegar is a contact or "burndown" herbicide, killing what it touches within hours or days. The worst part is that it may looks like it’s working, but weeds will then resprout from the roots, particularly perennial species. The research was carried out using Thale Cress -- Arabidopsis thaliana -- though it is likely to be applicable to most plants and crops.

Early spring, before the start of the growth season, is generally the best time to repot your houseplants. Plants typically need to be repotted every 12 to 18 months, but some slow growers can call the same pot home for years. Make sure the plant is centered and upright then press it firmly into it’s new home and add soil. Once you have patted it down, water it to help settle the soil. Porous material – You will need these to cover the drainage holes in your new pot, coffee filters work great.

If you want to switch up the decor or your plant is overgrown, proper potting is key to set your plant up for success. Moisten the soil mix lightly, and shovel it into a large plastic storage bin. Sit quietly near your plants on a sunny, calm day and see if they are being visited. If you’re certain they’re not, use a small paintbrush or cotton swab to move the pollen from one flower to another. Alternating between the varieties - putting the pollen from a Northblue onto a Polaris - is recommended.

A year on, when I educated myself, I discovered that the white fuzz was indeed mealy bugs, and had to sacrifice two of the plants. I was unbelievably lucky that they hadn’t spread to the other plants. If you have a plant that like a moister soil, like calathea, then reduce the amount of orchid bark. Instead, you could line the bottom of the pot with some kitchen towel, newspaper, or even a bit of coffee filter paper. That’ll be porous enough to allow the water to drain away (or soak through, if you’re bottom watering).

If your plant is root bound – the roots are growing in very tight circles around the base of the plant – unbind the roots as best you pathos can and give them a trim. Scoop the soil into a large bucket with holes in the bottom. Fill the bucket with water, and allow it to drain out the bottom.

The plant is basically parched, Gutierrez said, and the salt and minerals in our water tend to accumulate unhealthily in the soil. They thought they were helping, she said, but instead the plants were suffocating in standing water or rotting from perpetually soggy roots. The nursery pots have excellent drainage, unlike a lot of decorative pots.

Water generously when the repotting is done and add additional soil if needed. Make sure to keep your plant well hydrated for a few weeks so it can recover and thrive. To prune the roots, start with a pair of scissors, pruning shears, or sharp knife.

When you water a plant, there’s the saturated zone of the soil, and the unsaturated zone. Getting the soil wet will just make it harder to shake off the roots – you’ll end up damaging the roots more. Bad stuff happens to plants all the time and they usually bounce back. “There are some dark-leaf plants that can tolerate low light, but they’re never going to flower or get big,” said Gutierrez, whose houseplant care tips are available online.

It can take weeks to become adjusted to a new location, so just water regularly and ensure all sunlight and nutrient needs are met in the new space. For example, if all of the roots need to be dug up to move the plant, don’t shake them around or bump into them. Also avoid shaking the dirt away from the root, as this disturbs the plant and confuses its system. If the roots are so tight that you can't get your fingers between them, try soaking the entire root ball in water for a few hours, or overnight.