Written by Administrator | 01 March 2005

Spring is the most wonderful time of the year for houseplants.  Your plants may require more attention from you during this time. This is one of the best times to re-pot your plants if they are in need of it.

Be careful though. Plants do not require re-potting as much as people think. Most plants prefer to be slightly root-bound. If there is too much room in the pot, the plant may focus too much on growing longer roots, neglecting the foliage. There are some signs to look for to determine if re-potting is needed. If a plant which averages once a week watering needs watered more often, this is a good indication you may need to re-pot. Keep in mind however, that the warmer weather and more rapid growth could also be the cause of this. If this has been happening since sometime in the winter, re-potting is likely needed. You may also inspect the root ball. Gently tap the pot to loosen the soil, and carefully slide the root ball out of the pot. If the roots look very compacted, or are sticking far out of the bottom of the grow pot, it’s time for a larger container. It’s best to re-pot when the soil is slightly dry. Carefully crumble some of the old soil away from the roots, and trim any roots which appear dead. Choose a pot only slightly larger than the original. Place a small amount of soil in the bottom of the new pot. Place the plant in the pot, and pack the soil around it until it is sturdy in place. Water the plant thoroughly. Re-potting may cause the plant to “react”. This could be in the form of dropping leaves, wilting leaves, or brown tips. This is normal, and the plant will usually recover.