How to repot large plants is a process that you must aim to accomplish the right way to give to help and improve the growth and lifespan of your greens. Repotting a large plant is a crucial task you want to perform if your plant is experiencing yellow foliage, slowed or stunted growth, showing growth roots, or needs more watering.
Not to worry, though, as the guide will cover the necessary steps on how to repot a large indoor plant and give them a new growing environment.
How To Repot Large Plants Using The Right Steps?
To repot large plants is to gather your repotting tools and supplies, get the plant ready, get the pot ready, take your plant out of the current pot, get rid of the old potting mix, make the roots smaller, spread the soil evenly, fertilize and water them.
1. Gather Your Plant Repotting Tools and Supplies
The first step in replanting your indoor plants is to be keen that you own the necessary tools and supplies. Not only will these supplies make the repotting process easier, but they will also make sure for you to preserve your plants. Whether you’re looking for how to repot a large root bound plant or a smaller plant like the snake plant for instance.
Make sure you have gardening gloves to shield your hands, especially if you’re dealing with houseplants with thorns on their leaves and stems. You will also need cardboard sheets to protect yourself from the plant stem; this supply is only needed if you have no gardening gloves.
Gather your gardening shears or pruners to trim and minimize your plant’s roots, a small metal skewer or a trowel to help remove compacted soil from the edges of your pot, and a new and bigger plant pot where you’ll be replanting the plant. Make sure the pot you get is at least twice as big as the old pot or even bigger, and this would depend on the size of your plant or how bad the repotting issue is.
Get a bucket, wheelbarrow, or any other container that you can use to mix your potting soil with water, and don’t forget the fresh potting mix, which will include a variety of soil preferences for your plant. Note that most potting mixes contain elements like perlite, peat moss, and vermiculite. Grab your gertilizer to nurture the plant back to the right track, especially if repotting has been long overdue.
2. Get the Plant Ready to Be Repotted
To increase the chances of the repotting process going as simply and smoothly as possible, so be ready to water the plant a few days before the removal so that it would be healthy and not weak. In short, doing so will make the soil moist and loose, making it easy for you to remove the plant with no issues.
3. Get the New Pot Ready
If you’re looking for how to change soil in large potted plants or even small ones, this section will be of help. All you should do is to be detailed that your new pot is larger than what you’re currently using and ensure that the new pot is ready.
Then prepare the new pot by taking a large container, such as a wheelbarrow or bucket, and pouring equal parts of water and potting soil into the container. After so, you must mix both elements evenly and pour the mixture into your new pot, and try to fill the mixture about a third of the new pot, because after the plant is in, you must keep on adding.
While this step is optional, it may be an essential step you want to carry out as it helps moisturize your large plant after you’re done repotting it. You can also add porous materials to the pot’s base if your pot doesn’t have drainage holes.
4. Take Your Plant Out of Its Current Home
The next step is to remove your greens from where they’re currently sitting because now you will have to transfer it, so if the current container or pot has drainage holes, check them to see if the roots of the plant have grown through them. In addition, if the roots are sticking out of the drainage holes, cut them off. Doing so will facilitate the process for you to dislodge the plants from the pot.
Once you’ve dealt with the overgrown roots, turn the plant on its side, and fix your hands and locate them at the base of the stem and gently tug on the plant until it slides out. If you’re unable to remove your greens after a few tugs, take your trowel and run it along the edges of the pot. You will notice how this process will remove any compacted soil sticking to the sides of the pot.
5. Get Rid of Any Old Potting Mix
If you’re seriously considering how to repot a plant without killing it, then you’ll know how important the potting mix is. Ensure that you have your gardening gloves on, and gently remove any potting mix stuck on the root ball. This part of the process is quite essential as old soil may contain salts accumulated over time, which can be dangerous to your plants.
6. Make the Roots Smaller
Loosening and trimming your roots by making use of your gardening shears or trimmers to cut off any damaged, dead, sick, or overgrown roots. Not only does trimming make it easier to repot your large plant, but it also allows you to control the growth patterns of your plant.
Plant your big greens in the new pot and place your large plant into its new home. Place your plant on the mix if you used a new potting mix, as we explained in the third step above. Be detailed here, and check while holding the plant firmly with one hand, add more moist soil mix to the pot. Ensure the plant is standing upright and add more soil until the entire root ball has been covered and leave an inch of space between the pot rim and the topsoil.
7. Spread the Soil Evenly
Now that you have placed the plant and added soil, gently spread out the topsoil using the trowel or your hands. Making the soil even will help prevent the creation of large air bubbles in the soil. Also, make sure the compacted soil that is as hard can suffocate your plant, which is why you must not apply too much pressure; instead, keep the soil well aerated.
8. Add Your Fertilizer
While this step is optional, it can enhance your plant’s health and help it recover faster by providing adequate nutrients, especially if your plant has been damaged. Adding fertilizers to your freshly repotted plant is better if you didn’t use a potting mix.
9. Water Your Plant
Once you’re done adding your fertilizer, water the plant thoroughly because it has to start developing its roots properly now to adhere to its new environment. If you didn’t utilize the potting mix step described above, consider watering the plant as meticulously as possible.
On the contrary, if you are using potting mix, you can just water your plant as you normally would. Once you’re done repotting, make sure to keep your plant away from direct sunlight for at least 14 days.
Conclusion
With the steps above, you’re now fully equipped with the knowledge on how to repot a large tree or household plants. Remember these tips when repotting plants in your home:
- Trimming your plant’s overgrown roots can make removing them from their old pot easy.
- Make sure you remove any old soil stuck on your plant, as they tend to have no nutrients to offer and may contain harmful salts instead.
- Keep your repotted plant away from direct sunlight for a minimum of two weeks.
- Adding a new potting mix and fertilizer to your new pot or plant are optional steps.
- It’s recommended that you add fertilizer to your repotted plant if you need to use a potting mix.
Your plant will take some time to adjust to its new home, so make sure to water as frequently as possible, so repotting house plants drainage when getting a pot for your plant.
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