Correctly Transplanting Your Houseplants

For those of us who enjoy having plants around the house, we know that there comes a time when we have to transplant our greenery into larger pots. Sometimes, people who really enjoy their houseplants will hesitate to transplant them because they are not quite sure how to go about transplanting them without killing them.

The first step to take when beginning the process of transplanting a houseplant is to get a pot that is two inches bigger than the one that the plant is already in. You want to ensure that your plant has plenty of room to grow, and also ensure that you are able to keep the soil moist. If the pot is too large, the soil will dry out slowly and make it difficult for you to control the moisture for your plant. Be sure that your pot is clean and has drainage holes in it. If your pot does not have drainage holes and you cannot put any in it yourself, then a layer of small rocks or pebbles in the bottom of the pot will work fine. The idea of drainage holes is to enable the excess water to drain out of the plant. Rocks or pebbles in the bottom of a pot will serve the same purpose and help to prevent the roots of your houseplant from rotting.

Now that your new pot is ready for your houseplant, you need to have some fresh soil. I use regular potting soil unless I have a specific type of plant that requires something different. For example, a cactus does better in special citrus soil that drains water quickly. Fill your pot about one-half of the way with new soil. Use your hand or a small spade to make a hole in the middle of the new soil.

Remove the houseplant from its current pot very carefully. I hold the plant with one hand, turn it upside down, pot and all, and gently tap the bottom of the pot to loosen the plant. You may have to wiggle it just a little to help it out of the pot. To help with this step, you may want to water the plant a day before you plan to transplant it. This helps to moisten the soil well. Moistened soil will hold together better than dry soil.

You have your plant out of its old pot. The next step is to get it ready for its new pot. Do this by gently straightening and untangling its roots. Try not to break the roots during this process. Breaking the roots too much can cause the plant to ultimately die. Once the roots are straightened, place the plant into the hole you made in the soil of the new pot. Hold your plant so that the soil level will be the same at the base as it was in the old pot. You don't want to cover more than was covered before; you only want it to have more room for its roots to grow.

Now, add more soil around your plant while you are holding it in place. Be sure to lightly pack the soils around the plant to help stabilize it in its new home.

Once you have you plant in its new pot, be sure to water it well. I normally water my plant until I see water draining out of the drainage holes. This helps me to be sure that the soil is moist enough. Be sure that the soil is kept moist, but do not over-water your plant.

Since I am using regular potting soil, my soil is not fertilized. I recommend adding fertilizer to your soil at this time. I have found that when I wait to add fertilizer, the plant may die more easily in a new pot. I feel that fertilizing a plant right after transplanting helps it to maintain its life and not go into shock from the transplant. Now, place your plant in bright indirect sunlight for a few days to help it adjust to being transplanted.

Now that your houseplant has a new pot to grow in to, sit back and enjoy your efforts. To ensure the long life of your plants, be sure to transplant them as they need it.