Repotting House Plants Autum is a great time to repot your plants!

 

 

This time of year many gardeners clean up their outside areas, and bring some plants inside for the cooler weather. It's the perfect time to repot those plants that have taken advantage of the plentiful rain this summer, and have outgrown their home.

 

To decide whether your houseplants need repotting, consider the answers to these questions:

1. Does the plant wilt between normal waterings?

2. Have roots appeared either on the surface of the soil or through the drainage hole?

3. Are lower leaves turning yellow or does the foliage seem stunted?

If you have answered yes to these questions, it's time to repot. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Water the plant thoroughly a few hours before you plan to do your repotting...the roots and soil ball will release from the pot more easily when damp.
• Remove the plant by laying it on its side and gently tapping the pot on the table, all the way around until you can gently pull the root ball from the pot.
• Loosen any matted roots and try to straighten any that are circling around the root ball. If you can't straighten the roots, cut them to encourage new growth.
• Set the root ball at the same depth in the new pot as it was in the old one.
• The general rule is to increase the pot size by just an inch or two in diameter; otherwise the majority of the growth energy will be just in the roots, not the foliage.
• Gradually fill in around the root ball with soil, firming it as you fill to eliminate air pockets.
• Water thoroughly after repotting and give a dose of water soluble fertilizer.

Now, your houseplants will look great and be ready for winter!