There was no more putting it off. I HAD to repot and propagate some of our houseplants for their health. My boys LOVE helping me repot our houseplants, but during the winter when we have to do it inside, I make sure to repot and do more extensive care during nap time.
Some of my plants were showing signs of distress (my ZZ, the kitten ears, and Bolivian) definitely needed trimming and repotting.
Why do houseplants need repotting?
It is easy to see that our plants are growing when they produce new leaves, but we have to remember they have root systems that need cared for as well.
My ZZ plant recently produced a new shoot (that I adore!) but the rest of the plant was starting to show some slight browning on the leaf tips and leaves turning upwards. No amount of watering, extra sunshine seemed to help and there were no pests insight.
Repotting your houseplants allows you to check the health of the roots. Look for any mushy/brown root, a sign of root rot. Trim the rotted areas, repot in fresh soil, and take care not to over water in the future. Plants can also get root bound, which is when there is too much root mass for the pot it’s currently in. This was the case of my ZZ plant.
Some plants (such as a spider plant) prefer to be slightly root bound, but most plants do not. My ZZ was telling me it needed a larger pot for all it’s growth.
How do I know what size pot to choose?
The rule of thumb when repotting into a larger pot is to only go up about one pot size. This will allow the roots to spread out, but not provide areas for water to collect and lead to root rot. I’ve collected several sizes over the years and simply reuse them as needed.
My Bolivian had started getting super leggy (reaching towards the light which makes the plant looked very stretched out. I snipped off quite a bit and plugged them directly into the soil to propagate in a new pot.
Can I reuse the soil from the old pot?
I generally do not recommend reusing the old soil. The nutrients it once contained have been used by the plant or washed out from watering. Removing as much of the old soil (without damaging the roots) will also allow you to rid any pest eggs, fungus, or other unwanted guests they may have moved in over the last several months.
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I prefer using Fox Farm’s Organic potting soil; however, if I’m repotting non-edible plants and am in a pinch, I’ll grab a bag of Miracle Grow’s Cactus potting soil. Burpee’s Natural and Organic potting soil is also sometimes available in-stores near us, and I’ve had good success with.
Changing things up
I find it is easier during the winter to take time and make changes throughout the house. I purchased these macrame hangers recently (with a gift card!) and used repotting as an excuse to fill my hangers.
I’m so pleased with how they turned out! I still have one that is in search of a plant. I’m hoping to move some of my monstera adansonii cuttings in there once their roots are established enough for potting.
You can get a variety of macrame hangers with different sizes here!
Thanks for the info. I never thought about the nutrients being gone from the soil. Very helpful.
Yes! The general rule of thumb is yearly, but can also vary by plant!