Repotting House Plants

Some plants need annual repotting, while others are perfectly content to remain in the same pots for several years. To determine if your plant needs repotting, ask:

• Does the plant wilt between normal waterings?

• Have roots appeared on the soil surface, or through the pot's drainage holes?

• Are any lower leaves turning yellow?

• Does the foliage seem stunted?

If your plant does need repotting, select a new pot that is one size larger than the old one. The top diameter should measure 1 to 2 inches larger than the old pot. Make sure the new pot has drainage holes. (If you plan to display your plant in a decorative planter that does not have drainage holes, pot the plant in a container that does have drainage holes, and set that container inside the decorative planter for display. Be sure to empty the excess water from the bottom of the decorative planter after each watering.)

Since the soil ball and roots will release more easily from the old if the soil is moist, water the plant several hours before you plan to repot.

To remove the plant from the pot, lay the plant on its side and gently tap the pot on the table. Rotate the pot and repeat until you can slip the root ball out of the pot.

Loosen any matted roots on the outside of the root ball, and straighten any circling roots. Cut off any roots that cannot be straightened. This forces new roots to grow into the fresh soil area.

If the new pot is 6 inches in diameter or larger, put a drainage layer of gravel or perlite in the bottom of the pot. Clean clay pot chips may also be used.

The root ball must be set in the new pot at the same depth it had been growing in the old pot. With this in mind, put a layer of soil mix in the pot and firm it down. Set in the plant. Adjust the layer of soil mix as necessary to bring the plant to the correct level in the pot.

Gradually fill around the sides of the root ball, firming the soil as you go. A wooden spoon handle is helpful in reach tight spaces.

Water the plant thoroughly. A single application of a root-building high phosphorous, water-soluble fertilizer is beneficial. Stern's Miracle-Gro, and Peter's House Plant Special fertilizers are examples.