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Step 6Potting/repotting
actively growing plants will need to be repotted eventually.
If you want to check if they do or not, gently slip/shake/wiggle the plant out of pot (soil still on roots). If the roots are rapping around the pot, it is most likely time to repot. If the pot is literally deformed by the roots, it is also time to repot.
Roots have little single-celled hairs that grow on them. These are called root hairs. The root hairs suck up most of the water and nutrients that the plant needs. They are extremely delicate. Disturb the roots as little as you can. Trying to find these root hairs will most likely rip them all off- don't do this....
Choose a pot that is slightly large than the original root ball or pot. Do not double the size of the pot each time you repot, as most potted plants do not like this. Plants react differently when they are potted as compared to outside in the soil.
A good pot must have drainage holes. The size of the drainage hole/s isn't really all that important of an issue. As long as the pot has a whole that is large enough to let access water exit, without vast amounts of potting soil fall out with it.
Always wet the potting soil before you add the plant to it, and as well as after the plant is potted up again. This will reduce the shock of having some root hairs ripped off during the potting process.
The original soil surface should remain the soil surface after repotting. Do not bury the plant any further down than it was originally- keep it level with the original soil surface.
Placing a little soil on the bottom of the pot before placing the plant into it's new container is always a good idea. Make sure the soil in the pot and the bottom of the soil/root ball make good contact. Large air bubbles in the soil should be avoided.
Also, do not fill the entire pot full to the brim with soil/plant. Leaving a little space will make it easier to water the plant (less overflow).
Tall pots drain better than short pots. This is due to gravity, and the weight of the water on itself. Try holding a wet sponge vertically as compared to horizontally if you don't believe me.
Anything semi-rigid to rigid will do for a pot, keeping in mind the depth of the container. All the pot needs is a few small holes in the bottom. Try digging through the recycling. If you happen to come across a landscaping crew installing plants, ask if you can have any of their empty pots. Sometimes landscaping crews throw the pots away so they don't have to pay an employee to take the time to rinse and sterilize them so they can be reused again.
If you want to check if they do or not, gently slip/shake/wiggle the plant out of pot (soil still on roots). If the roots are rapping around the pot, it is most likely time to repot. If the pot is literally deformed by the roots, it is also time to repot.
Roots have little single-celled hairs that grow on them. These are called root hairs. The root hairs suck up most of the water and nutrients that the plant needs. They are extremely delicate. Disturb the roots as little as you can. Trying to find these root hairs will most likely rip them all off- don't do this....
Choose a pot that is slightly large than the original root ball or pot. Do not double the size of the pot each time you repot, as most potted plants do not like this. Plants react differently when they are potted as compared to outside in the soil.
A good pot must have drainage holes. The size of the drainage hole/s isn't really all that important of an issue. As long as the pot has a whole that is large enough to let access water exit, without vast amounts of potting soil fall out with it.
Always wet the potting soil before you add the plant to it, and as well as after the plant is potted up again. This will reduce the shock of having some root hairs ripped off during the potting process.
The original soil surface should remain the soil surface after repotting. Do not bury the plant any further down than it was originally- keep it level with the original soil surface.
Placing a little soil on the bottom of the pot before placing the plant into it's new container is always a good idea. Make sure the soil in the pot and the bottom of the soil/root ball make good contact. Large air bubbles in the soil should be avoided.
Also, do not fill the entire pot full to the brim with soil/plant. Leaving a little space will make it easier to water the plant (less overflow).
Tall pots drain better than short pots. This is due to gravity, and the weight of the water on itself. Try holding a wet sponge vertically as compared to horizontally if you don't believe me.
Anything semi-rigid to rigid will do for a pot, keeping in mind the depth of the container. All the pot needs is a few small holes in the bottom. Try digging through the recycling. If you happen to come across a landscaping crew installing plants, ask if you can have any of their empty pots. Sometimes landscaping crews throw the pots away so they don't have to pay an employee to take the time to rinse and sterilize them so they can be reused again.
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