Houseplant Repotting

Re potting your plants when they have out grown their containers, will give them renewed life and a much healthier look as the roots once again will have room to grow in.

Repotting houseplants is not very difficult even if this is your first time, and if you done this many times before you may discover some new techniques. Before you remove a plant from the container it is in, make sure you have enough fresh potting soil.

A day or two before repotting houseplants, give your plants a good watering so that they are easier to remove from from their containers. Put some potting soil in a bucket or bowl and add just the same amount of water and blend thoroughly.

Most soil less potting soil are some what water repellent when dry. You will need to mix them with water so they have the consistency of a stiff batter. Adding a drop or two of liquid soap to the water will help the mix absorb moisture readily. Left over mix can be stored in a plastic bag.

To remove the plant from its old container, slip your hand over the top of the container keeping the stem of the plant in between your fingers. Turn the pot over and tap the bottom lightly, gently pull the pot up to remove the plant. If the plant won't budge tap the pot against a hard surface a few times and try again. You also may run a knife blade around the inside of the pots rim to remove the plant or cut away roots extending from the drainage holes, if all fails you may need to cut the container off or break the pot.

Examine the roots if they are less than healthy or if the plant has been in the same pot more than twenty four months you must do some cleaning up before replanting it.
If some of the roots appear to be damaged, dead, or rotten you will need to prune them off. If the roots are thick and encircle the plant, cut away one half to one inch of the dirt with a sharp knife, be sure to cut off the bottom also.

If you intend on repotting houseplants in the same size pot or a smaller one, prune back up to one third of the plants roots, this can be done with out hurting the plant. Remove one third of the old potting soil from the roots. This is no loss the soil is likely contaminated with mineral salts.

 When repotting houseplants Pour in a layer of the soil you mixed up earlier set the plant in making sure it is centered add soil mix, use your fingers to work potting soil down around the roots making sure there are no large air pockets without packing the soil. Water well let drain well.