The growing season, early spring through late summer, is usually the best time to repot your plants. Because your plants are actively growing during this time, they'll get the most out of additional space and fresh nutrients!
Fall is a good time to repot houseplants. Fresh soil and room for new root growth will help keep plants healthy through winter.
Winter is a great time to repot houseplants. Plants like to be potted up into larger pots as they grow. Larger containers allow for more soil to nourish the root systems. Plants that have grown in pots for years can become root bound, which can lead to a plants' demise.
Spring is the best time for repotting since it's the time of year that your indoor plants finish their dormant period and start to grow again! By repotting your houseplants in the spring, you give them a sufficient amount of time to grow their roots into the new soil.
You should repot houseplants into fresh, peat-free compost every two to three years. Spring, the start of the growing season, is the best time to settle houseplants into a new pot (repot).
However, if you've had your plant for less than a year, more than likely, you do not need to repot it yet. Some plants can go 18 months and others even longer before they need a new pot. Repotting too often can stress out the plant, leading to browning at the leaf tips, wilting, and shed leaves.
Misting is highly recommended at least once a month, and more often with species that enjoy it (see full list below). Be sure to spray the top and underside of your leaves, and if using for cleaning your leaves, wipe the leaves down with a cloth after misting to remove dust.
All of our growing conditions are different, but for many of us, Winter is typically a bad time to repot because: Less light will reduce plant growth (unless you're using a grow light) Cooler temperatures reduce plant growth.
“A lot of people don't understand the importance of misting,” adds Jenkins. “Misting is one of the top things that you can do for your houseplants. I advise my clients to mist their houseplants one to two times per week.”
Roots packed tightly in a pot don't take up nutrients efficiently. To promote good nutrient absorption, trim the roots and loosen up the root ball before replanting. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears for this job, removing as much as the bottom third of the root ball if necessary.
Fall is also a good time for transplanting, but try to do it at least three to four weeks before you bring the plant indoors for the winter. You want your plant to acclimate to its new container while it's still on summer vacation. Gently remove the plant from the pot and check its roots.
Perlite is really good for houseplants as it provides a well-drained and aerated soil for the roots. The majority of houseplants prefer well-drained soil. You can mix perlite in with compost or mix it with coco coir and vermiculite. There are various ways of using it including when you take cuttings for propagation.
Most houseplants won't survive that long without any water, so bottom watering will allow some water to be pulled up into the growing medium, where the lower roots will then have access to water.
Your plant may be dying after repotting due to over-watering, plant shock, poor soil quality, root damage, incorrect pot size, or exposure to direct sunlight. Gradual changes and proper care can help prevent this from happening.
Botanists explained that the roots are delicate and touching them can break the smaller ones. While this is still considered true, the current view is that you can do more damage if you don't wash the soil from the tree roots before you plant.
Water thoroughly after repotting to help the soil settle around your plant's roots. Plenty of moisture will also help your plant recover from the move better. If you have a saucer under the pot, make sure to empty it, so your plant doesn't get too soggy.
Plants can get stressed, just like us. Whether it happens overnight after being repotted in your cute new pot or over the course of several days after their environment drastically changes, they are great at communicating their stress with us.
You can either go for the bath method and bottom water, or thoroughly top water. I prefer to give plants a bath (bottom water) as step one, a day or two before I repot, then I like to thoroughly top water drench after repotting, as top watering also helps flush out excess dirt and silt from the new substrate.
Most houseplants will need re-potted every 12-18 months (with the exceptions of succulents and cacti). You definitely want to avoid repotting a plant immediately after bringing it home from the plant shop. Allow time for your new plant to adjust to its new surrounds, temperatures and humidity.
Water your plant thoroughly a day or two before you plan to re-pot. This will make it easier to get your plant out of its pot, and ensure that it is hydrated, which reduces the risk of shock.
Pot Size Is Linked to Growth
Potting up (moving a plant to a larger pot) tends to encourage it to grow faster and become larger. It's the sort of thing you do to a younger plant, sometimes more than once a year.