Refreshing Garden Soil: A Detailed Walkthrough to Rejuvenate Your Flora
Repotting Houseplants: A Guide to Healthy Growth
Repotting your houseplants is an essential part of their care, ensuring they have the right soil and space to thrive. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you repot your plants effectively.
Choosing the Right Soil
The soil you choose depends on the type of plant. For outdoor potted plants, soil containing aged wood fibers is ideal. For succulents, use a mix of at least 50% sand or similar material. Indoor plants benefit from a mix of peat, shredded pine bark, and perlite or vermiculite for the potting soil.
Preparing the Plant
First, remove the plant from its current pot. Remove about one-third or more of the old potting mix surrounding the plant. Loosen the plant's roots gently with your hands, pruning off any thread-like roots that are extra long.
Preparing the New Planter
If your new planter doesn't have a drainage hole, consider adding lava rocks or similar to improve drainage. For planters with drainage holes, place a used dryer sheet under the hole before adding a few scoops of fresh potting soil.
Repotting Process
Water the plant well and fill in any air pockets by lightly tamping or hand-packing the soil around the plant's roots. Set the plant on top of the fresh layer of mix in the new planter, making sure it's centred, then add potting mix around the plant until it is secure. Pour a layer of fresh potting soil into the new planter and pack it down, removing any air pockets.
Inspecting the Roots
Inspect the roots for any signs of disease or damage, and cut away any visibly diseased or damaged roots.
When to Repot
The key signs that indicate it's time to repot a plant include roots growing out of drainage holes or circling tightly around the root ball, showing the plant is root-bound and has outgrown its pot. Other signs include stunted growth or smaller leaves/flowers despite proper care, soil that dries out too quickly after watering or becomes compacted and hard, water running straight through the pot without being absorbed, visible soil erosion or exposed roots, and the presence of pests or disease affecting roots or soil.
The frequency of repotting depends on the plant species and growth rate. Generally, repotting every 1 to 3 years is common for many houseplants, but observing the above signs is the best indicator.
In sum, monitoring root behavior and soil condition, alongside plant growth patterns, will guide timely repotting to ensure healthy houseplants.
[1] Source: Plant Care Today [2] Source: The Spruce [3] Source: Garden Myths
Revamping your indoor living space can be as simple as upgrading your home-and-garden setup with new indoor plants. Choosing the right potting soil is crucial for their healthy growth, as indoor plants thrive best in a mix of peat, shredded pine bark, and perlite or vermiculite. [1]
By following these steps for repotting, you can create a lifestyle that nurtures and sustains your indoor plants, ensuring they continue to bring life and beauty to your home-and-garden. [2]
