Tend to your houseplants! Before it’s time to head out to the garden, let’s give our houseplants the attention they need and deserve. Most will become potbound as they grow and the potting soil gets devoid of nutrients after a while.
To see if it’s time for a bigger pot, gently slide the plant out of its pot. The roots should not be crowded or circling the pot. If you want to use the same pot, remove as much of the soil from the roots and carefully spread out the roots. I cut the roots back enough so that they don’t curl around the pot. I like to soak the roots in tepid water that has root stimulator added to it.
While the plant is soaking, I wash the pot and if I have time and the dishwasher is ready to run, put it through a cycle in the dishwasher.
I cover the drainage hole with a coffee filter and add the plant and enough potting soil so that the soil covers the roots up to the foliage at the same height as before and about half an inch below the rim of the pot. Firm the soil gently, water with the leftover water and root stimulant solution and set aside to drain.
In recent years I have been adding a little horticultural charcoal to the potting soil. It helps absorb excess water and keep the soil fresh. The old soil can be put in the garden or shrub bed. If your pot has no drainage hole, put an inch of pea gravel and horticultural charcoal in the bottom of the pot. Cut a plastic straw and insert it into the pot so that it goes into the gravel and occasionally carefully tip the pot and drain the excess water from the bottom of your pot.
Repotted plants won’t need fertilizer, but do give some to your other houseplants.
