Spring Is The Best Time To Repot Your Indoor Plants
Indoor plants have become more popular in recent years due to the numerous benefits they offer. Plants are a great way to bring nature into your home, while also adding to the aesthetic of any room. Repotting helps to ensure that your plant has access to all the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and can help prevent root rot or stunted growth. Furthermore, especially if you have a large collection of plants, repotting can help prevent overcrowding or competition for resources. Repotting an indoor plant is also a great way to showcase your own creativity in terms of decorating and style.
Keeping your indoor plants healthy and thriving can be a rewarding experience, but it also requires regular care and maintenance. Knowing when and how often to water, fertilize, prune, and repot your plants can help you keep them looking their best. When it comes to repotting, younger plants should be repotted every one to two years while mature plants may only need to be repotted once every three years or so. The exact frequency will depend on the type of plant, its age, size, potting mix requirements, and other factors.
Spring is the ideal time of year to repot indoor plants. This is because spring marks the beginning of a new growing season, and this is the optimal time to give your indoor plant fresh soil and nutrients. Repotting also helps to control pests, and it allows you to check for root rot or disease problems. It also will ensure that your indoor plants have adequate space for their roots which can help them grow more efficiently. Repotting will help your indoor plants flourish and spring is the ideal time to do it.
Some specific signs your indoor plants need repotting are:
- The roots of your plant start growing out of the drainage holes in the pot or you notice that the roots are starting to circle around at the bottom of the pot.
- The plant seems stunted or isn't growing as vigorously as before, which might be due to having outgrown its current home.
- If you notice that there is no longer any room for soil in your current pot and that water tends to run off quickly without being absorbed, this could be another sign that you need a bigger pot or one with better drainage.
How to repot your indoor plant:
- Start by preparing the new pot with fresh soil, making sure it is deep enough for your plant’s root system. When selecting a container just go one size up. If the plant is currently in a 4-inch container, go to a 6-inch one, not an 8-inch one. Using a size that is too large will slow plant growth. It is not necessary to put pebbles or another material at the bottom of the pot, this reduces growing space for the plant.
- Lightly water the plant and let it dry for an hour before you plan on repotting the plant.
- Carefully remove your plant from its old pot and gently shake off any extra soil. Make sure you do not damage the root ball of the plant. If you see any dead or rotted roots, you can cut them.
- Place the roots in the new pot and fill in with more soil until it reaches two-thirds of the way up from the bottom of its container.
- Water thoroughly and make sure all air pockets are filled before giving it some time to settle into its new home.
- Finally, place your newly potted plant in a spot with adequate light and, water when needed, and enjoy watching it grow.
- Most soils have fertilizer built into their mixtures. If your soil does not, do not fertilize the plant for six weeks. If you do it too soon you can burn the new root growth.
