Does Your Houseplants Need a New Pot? Follow These Steps

If you are like me and have houseplants all over your house, now is the time to repot! Houseplants begin actively growing in the spring and the pots that they are in can actually stop them from growing because there is no more room.

How to tell if your house plants needs to be repotted
These signs will tell you - roots growing out of the drainage hole or over the lip of the pot. If your plant is badly root bound then the roots can actually raise the plant up higher than it was when you originally planted it. Also root bound plants need watering more because of the increased ratio of roots to soil.

To see if your plant is root bound, turn the pot and plant upside down, using your hand to hold the plant so it doesn't just fall out and ease the root ball from the container. If you see roots wound all around the root ball very tightly then it needs to be repotted. If you have a stubborn or large pot and it won't ease out easily then run a knife around the inner surface of the pot and have someone help hold the lip of the pot while you remove the plant. Also if you see a buildup of fertilizer salts or moss on the soils surface then the plant needs repotting.

Buying the right size of pot
This is the time to treat yourself to a fresh looking pot for your home décor. Always make sure that there is a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot that you are considering buying. Move up to the next size of pot for your plant like a 12-inch if your plant was in a 10-inch and so on. This way it will give your plant another 2 to 3 years before you have to repot again. Don't increase the size to big because this will encourage excessive soil moisture and run the risk of root rot.

Always place gravel (I use small rock, my back yard is covered with small rocks) at the base of the pot to provide for drainage. Clay pots absorb water faster than any other pots so soak the clay pot thoroughly before repotting to prevent soil wicking.

Using the right kind of potting soil
Before placing you plant in your new pot, break off some of the old soil around the roots, don't worry if you break off some of the roots, it won't hurt your plant, this provides a fresh growing medium for your plant. Always buy a high-quality potting mix; never use garden soil or peat moss.

Repotting
As you place your plant in the new pot make sure that the crown of the plant is no lower in the new pot than its previous level, and make sure that the roots have full contact with the fresh mix. I use the tapping and shaking method, as you are filling the pot with fresh potting soil around the plant, take the pot and tap it gently on the ground then shake it. Do this several times while you are potting; this allows the soil to settle and gets out any air pockets. Also use this time to trim any foliage that needs trimming and then give your plant a good watering.

Watering and feeding your houseplants
Once you have repotted your houseplants regular watering can resume once the soil has dried out some. Don't start fertilizing until you notice new growth on your plant; then you can start fertilizing. Fertilizers can be applied as a slow-release granular feed or as a liquid. I prefer the liquid because I would always would forget to reapply the slow-release granular when it was gone. There are synthetic and organic feeds available.

Houseplants outdoors
Most houseplants do just fine outside. They love the increased light and humidity levels that are found outside in the summer months but watch for stress. Most houseplants can become stressed if they are placed in full sunlight. Put your houseplants in a shady spot or sheltered by a patio. If you do put your houseplants out in your garden, make sure they are covered from the direct afternoon sun. Don't' put a saucer under the pot, this will cause waterlog.