How often to repot plants is a question that’s often asked by many plant and garden lovers. In this regard, when compared to younger, faster-growing plants, mature plants typically require less frequent repotting, once every two or three years.
Continue reading this article if you are interested in learning more about this topic and want to find out when the ideal time is. Because here, will discuss the required frequency and inform you how to recognize signs indicating the requirement.
Contents
How Often Should One Repot Plants?
You should repot your plant every year to year and a half as you see it growing and starting to feel unfit as the pot would start to seem small. You would also start seeing the roots looking more compact in the pot, and the plant has grown more.
In another way of seeing it, when to repot a plant depends on its type, size, growth pace and pot size. Most plants should be repotted every year or two or when they outgrow their pot. Succulents can go longer than fast-growing tropical plants. What you can do is to check your plant’s soil to know if the roots crowd the pot.
When repotting houseplants, the ideal time is in the spring when the plant is actively growing. It is also an excellent time to transplant in the fall; however, you should make every effort to complete the procedure at least three to four weeks before bringing the plant inside for the winter.
What Are Some of the Signs That It is Time to Repot?
Some signs to show you it is time to repot are the roots starting to stick out of the drainage holes, and the soil looking parched. When the saucer has some water left, and the plant looking overly topped and heavy. Lastly, the unhealthy development of the plant.
Some clear-cut signs communicate that the plants may require repotting, which is evident from the mix, the growth and the roots of the plant. It is an essential element to know how the plant has been exhibited and what you need to keep a close watch on—failure to repot results in root crowding, compacted soil, improper drainage, and insufficient nutrition.
– Roots That Are Sticking Out of The Drainage Hole
Do you find the plant’s roots growing out of the drainage holes located directly at the bottom of the pot? If this is the case, it is clear that the plant has outgrown the container it is now housed in and requires more room for its roots to maintain its present rate of expansion.
This is simply because the plant has grown pretty well and has developed it roots right. As a result you will see the roots starting to pop up from all the sides which is why they will show up from the drainage holes, or you would see them starting to appear from the top view. In addition, another way that you can start seeing this, if the roots grew aggressively, would be the ceramic or terracotta pot cracking up slightly.
– Parched Soil
The typical response of the potting soil to the stress imposed by a restricted space, such as a small container, is drying out of the soil. The plant roots use up all available moisture in the cramped environment of the container, which leads to the soil becoming excessively parched.
When the soil dries out quickly, it is clear that it is time to repot the plant into a larger container, so it can continue to thrive. To put it simply, this is because the plant will start to develop more roots and it will be in need of more water.
– Saucer Still Has Some Water
If you notice drained water remaining in the tray after following your watering schedule for the plant, this is most likely the result of the soil for the plant being compacted. The reason behind this is that just when the plant does not receive adequate drainage, there is a chance that it will become prone to root rot over time, as the roots has increased and the plant has developed, but since the soil and the structure of the soil have become more compact, then, water will be left in the soil.
– An Overly Topped-heavy Plant
Your plant has the risk of becoming top-heavy in a small pot, and as a result, it is prone to falling over. The compact root ball rarely expands as the plant outgrows the existing pot, while the heavy foliage on top of the plant continues to grow. Which means the roots will start to show from the top of the soil, and visually, it will be obvious that the repotting must be done.
– Unhealthy Development of the Plant
If you find that your plant is growing more slowly than usual or that its growth has been stunted, along with the leaves becoming yellow, this could be because it is being grown in a pot that is too small for it.
What Are Different Plants That Need Repotting?
The different plants that need various times of repotting are the succulents, monsteras, different herbs, philodendros, and lilies. Note that these plants need to be repotted but with different paces because of how they grow, and how big they might get.
Even for different plants, ot is usually acceptable to reuse potting soil as long as whatever was grown in it is in good health. If you find insects or diseases in your plants, it is best to sterilize the soil mix so that you do not pass them on to the following year’s plants.
Clean out the used potting mix by removing any roots, grubs and leaves and use fresh mixes such as foxfarm ocean forest potting soil and miracle gro potting mix. The answer how often should you replace soil in potted plants depends upon the existing condition of the soil, and how much it has developed.
– Succulents
Repotting succulents is not very often necessary because they do best in arid, nutrient-deficient environments. It is essential to repot some succulents every two to three years, or after they have outgrown their container, while others may not require repotting for several years, depending on their growth rate and the container size the plant grows in.
This is a plant that won’t need repotting too much, and it will be fine to grow in the container for more than a year and a half, like the average plant would need.
The easiest way to determine whether you need to engage in this activity is to look at the plant itself. If the plant’s roots are visible out of the drainage holes or the surface of the soil is cracked with the roots jutting out, then the container is indeed too small, irrespective of whether it is grown as outdoor or indoor plants. The process is easy, and you wouldn’t find yourself fretting over how to repot a plant without killing it because it is so simple, as the plant is already a small one, which is why it wouldn’t be a messy situation.
– Monstera
Monstera plants sometimes referred to as the Swiss Cheese plant, need a change of pot once every year to two years. Since they are fast-growing foliage that wants a lot of space for their roots to spread out, they can rapidly overrun containers that are too small for them.
In addition, you should remember that the monstera is a tropical plant, and this is why you would constantly have to ensure that the soil it is being grown in is well-draining, and as a result it would require repotting.
It’s time to repot houseplants such as these if the soil becomes compacted or water is not draining well from the container, and you would even see a little pool on top of the soil and the roots would be visible too. It’s also a good idea to repot in the spring or summer when the plant is in its active development phase to give it the best chance to establish itself in its new pot.
– Herbs
Herb plants, such as basil, mint, cilantro, and parsley, are often planted in small pots and can quickly get root-bound due to this growing method. These plants need to have their pots changed every six months to a year or whenever they have outgrown the container they are now in.
When the plant is actively developing, typically in the spring or summer, it is the best time to repot and as a general rule, monitoring the soil, your herb plants are growing in frequently is a good idea. This is because herbs are prone to grow well, and they would develop easily, as the roots would start to grow better, too.
If the soil dries up too soon or the roots overwhelm the pot, repot as quickly as possible. In addition, repotting plants like herbs will often help ensure they have access to fresh soil and proper drainage, both of which are necessary for promoting healthy growth and encouraging the creation of leaves with a pleasant aroma and flavor. Just as you repot it, it will start growing even better and multiply more too, showing you its productivity with the right settlement.
– Philodendrons
Philodendrons are plants that develop rapidly; hence, they may quickly overrun the containers in which you may be growing them. This is the reason why they need repotting once every one or two years or when the pot they are in becomes too small, or even when they grow extensively, as you have provided the right care, they would then need to be repotted every year and a half.
The ideal time to undertake this exercise is in spring or summer when the plant is in its active growing phase and thus, the plant adapts suitably well in the new container or pot. This is the time when the plant would wake up and start to grow more and get productive.
Additionally, when repotting a philodendron, choose a pot that is a size larger than the current pot being used. This will prevent an entire large soil area from being over-potted. The potting mix also needs to be well draining for this plant; hence, check accordingly at the time of repotting. Regular checks of the soil are essential, as if the soil dries out too quickly or the roots suffocate the container they are in, it could be fatal to the plant.
– Peace Lily
Peace lilies are slow-growing plants hence thrive best when placed in small pots and as indoor plants. They typically do not require frequent repotting because they prefer compact containers due to their reduced growth rate.
Remember that in this case, the optimum schedule for these plants would be repotting once every two to three years. In addition, you will need to look for regular clear-cut signs for repotting plants into bigger pots, such as when the roots crowd the current container.
FAQ
1. Is It Unhealthy to Frequently Repot Your Plants?
A plant can become stressed from having its pot changed too frequently, which can result in browning at the leaf tips, withering, and the loss of leaves. Exercise extreme caution and repot only if your specific plant type requires a transplant.
There is an optimal time to repot every plant, and some species, such as spider plants, prefer to be root bound.
Conclusion
You should now better understand how frequently you must repot your plants to ensure they remain healthy.
In the following section, let us summarize what we learned from reading the article.
- When repotting a plant, you should consider its type, size, growth rate, and size of the pot. In most cases, mature plants must have their pots changed once every two or three years. Cacti and succulents have a more extended dormancy than rapidly growing tropical plants.
- It may be necessary to repot your houseplants if the soil is becoming more compacted or if the water is not draining properly from the container. The process of repotting plants helps to ensure that they have access to fresh soil and that drainage is functioning correctly.
- There are a few telltale indications that the plants might need to be repotted, and these can be deduced from the plant’s current growth and if roots are sticking out of drainage holes.
- Maintaining a close eye on the condition of the soil in which your plants are growing is a sound practice in general. It is time to repot the plant if the soil dries out too quickly or if the roots begin to outgrow the container they are in.
You know the appropriate timing for performing the repotting procedure because you have read all the relevant information. Therefore, as soon as you notice the first few signs, you should get your gardening tools out and relocate them to a different location.
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