Repotting your plant can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be a dreaded task. It’s a necessary part of plant parenthood that shows how much your plant loves your care and grows grows grows. Some times, it’s not as easy to tell if you need to repot your plant or not. Here are a few signs to keep an eye out for.

Wild Roots

Roots are a great indicator of repotting needs. If your plant grow roots that are protruding from the top soil (unlike plants such as rabbit foot fern or orchids which is normal to have aerial roots), its a clear sign to repot. Also, if you can turn your plant upside down and see roots growing out of the drainage holes, it is definitely time to repot your plant. Overgrown roots can lead to many issues, but can easily be solved by going up a pot size.

Wilting

Wilting leaves are a sign that you need to repot if you have ruled out two other possible reasons. Some times leaves will wilt if:

• They are sitting in wet soil for too long
• They are under-watered

If you have concluded these are not the issue, try repotting your plant in new soil.

Top Heavy

Top heavy plants basically means if the top half of your plant is heavy enough to tip over the planter, it’s time to repot in a WIDER planter. Some plants tend to grow out versus up and have shallow roots. The roots may never grow to the bottom of the planter, but it has reached its limited and “outgrown” the planter.

Yellowing Leaves

This is another indicator that has to rule out other issues as well. Yellowing leaves can be the result of too much sun or water or the plant needs a size appropriate planter. This does not always mean that you need to go up a size, it might mean that the plant is overwhelmed and needs to go down a size. If you repot a plant in a large planter and the leaves are still yellowing weeks afterwards, then maybe the planter is too big.

Slowed Growth

When plants are overwhelmed with their planter size, growth will halt or completely slow down, drastically. The way you can id this indicator, you have to be somewhat familiar with the typical growth pattern of your plant. For example, my maranta prayer plant consistently puts out a few new leaves a week. If I notice that number of leaves drops to one or none, I would consider repotting it.

A special note – Tons of people ask “should I repot my plant right now, it not in season to do”

my answer – Yes it is recommended to refrain from repotting your plant during slow growing seasons, but if it is suffering from any of the symptoms above – its worth it repotting during colder seasons. The results from repotting during the off season can be delayed growth and longer adjustment periods. I would rather have that versus a dead plant from overwatering or whatever the case maybe.

How To Repot Your Plant

Now we know why and when we need to consider repotting our plant, here is how you”ll do so.

Choosing A Container

Most of the time, you’re repotting because your plant needs more room, also known as potting up” It’s recommended to give your plant at least an extra inch of space but no more that 3 inches. Also, be sure to choose a planter with proper drainage or arrange for necessary drainage. For example, I found the cutest planter with no drainage holes! Instead, I left my houseplant in a plastic nursery planter with drainage and sat it in the cute planter. When it was time to water, I would water the plant and pour out excess water collected at the bottom of the planter.

The type of planter is also a factor to consider. Terra cotta planters (my favorite) absorbs moisture and can dry out your plant quicker than other types of planters. When repotting, consider the adjustments you may have to make when you change the pot itself.

Selecting The Right Potting Mix

Using garden soil in indoor containers for houseplants could lead to disease and pest problems. Instead, choose a potting mix or potting soil especially created for potted plants like Good Dirt. Per their website, Good Dirt has an unique formula to helps you achieve the right balance of air and moisture to ensure your houseplants flourish. Loaded with BogBits, a recycled by-product from the North American peat bogs, the indoor potting mix provides an air-rich structure that allows roots to thrive while sustainably-farmed peat moss promotes optimum levels of water retention. Basically, this type of potting mix works best because it allows for the proper amount of air circulation and water retention most indoor plants need and it has a host of fertilizer that encourages the best bloom and foliage development. In my opinion, their indoor potting mix works amazingly well with all my houseplants especially since I choose to use terra cotta planters that could possible dry out my plants.

Repotting Steps

here is what you’ll need:

• planter
• gloves
• hand shovel
• potting mix
• mat or repotting station (something to keep the area tidy)

After you chose the potting mix and container, its time time repot your plant. Firstly, water the plant in its orginal pot an hour or two ahead of time. This will make it easier to repot AND cause less stress on the plant.

Secondly, fill the new planter with enough potting mix that if you place the plant in, it will position the plant to be appromately one inch from the rim of the planter.

Thirdly, gently remove (you may have to turn the plant upside down) the plant from its current planter by holding and pulling the base of the plant and the orginial planter simultaneously.

Use your fingers to remove some dirt from the roots to loosen it up a tad bit. This will encourage root growth in new soil.

Place the plant in its new planter and fill in soil around the new plant where:

• the plant is stable 
• the top of the soil is approx. one inch from the rim of the top of the container

Lastly, water the plant and place it in its new home.


**This post was sponsored by Good Dirt. All opinions are my own and are no way influenced by sponsorships we receive here at BGWG. We want to thank you for supporting the companies that support BGWG!