When Is the Best Time to Repot a Houseplant?

April 15, 2021 by micah catherine

The giddiness of owning your first plant (or two) is finally wearing off a bit, now that it has been taking over your home for a year. You’re now a pro at reading your plant’s subtle signs and never miss a watering. You’ve even attempted to fertilize it once or twice without causing any harm. In fact, your plant has grown quite a bit. Rumor has it that eventually, you’ll need to repot your houseplant. But when exactly is the best time? Glad you asked.

Why Repot?
Repotting your houseplant is one of the best ways you can keep it growing healthy and strong. Eventually, the small grow pot your plant came in will need to be swapped for one that accommodates its expanding root system. Without the extra space, your plant can become stressed and stunted, no matter how much you love you give. Equally important, potting up will give your plant nutrient-rich soil, even if you don’t change the pot size. Signs your plant is ready for a repot include:

Roots are growing out the drainage hole or poking through the top of the soil
Water drains quickly with each watering and your plant needs water more frequently
Your plant doesn’t seem to be growing, is growing slowly, or feels top-heavy
Salt and mineral buildup is noticeable around the exterior base of the pot

The Ideal Time to Repot a Houseplant
It’s always good to keep an eye on the above scenarios when determining a good time to repot. But there is an ideal time to transition your plant. Spring! Not surprisingly, springtime is when plants are leaping out of winter dormancy. Longer days and more hours of sunlight mean your plants will also start to experience significant growth. To provide the best environment for this growth spurt, a bigger pot and fresh soil are just what your plant needs.

First, remove your plant from its grow pot or container and check the roots. If your plant is rootbound, it will need to be up-potted to a size 1-2″ greater than the diameter of the root system. Be sure to choose a pot that has a drainage hole or drill one yourself. Remove as much of the old soil as possible without harming the root system. Then, place your plant in a new pot and fill in the empty spaces with new soil. Give your plant a gentle watering and watch it grow!

How Do You Repot?
I’m curious to know how and when you repot your houseplants? Do you notice significant changes when you do? Tell me in the comments!

XO,
Micah

How to Choose the Best Pot for Your Plant

November 12, 2020 by micah catherine 2 Comments

You’ve done it. You’ve finally found the perfect plant for your home. It now sits contentedly on your counter as you contemplate how you should repot it. But is there a right type of pot for your plant? Is there a better size… or better material? The answer to these questions is sometimes actually yes! The plant pot you choose can ultimately help your plant enjoy a longer, happier life.

Drainage
The main culprit in indoor plant deaths is overwatering, and this is often accompanied by a plant pot that didn’t have a drainage hole in the first place. With nowhere for the water to go, it will pool in the bottom, making it difficult for your plant to receive oxygen. Eventually, it may suffer from yellowing leaves, root rot, and mold. Unfortunately, many aesthetic pots don’t have pre-made drainage holes. When shopping for pots, try not to pick one for its color or pattern, without checking the bottom first. If you can’t resist a pot that isn’t prepared for plants, you can always drill a drainage hole yourself!

Size
The bigger the pot, the bigger a plant will grow, right? Not exactly. Most indoor plants prefer to be snug in their pots—too small and you will risk overwatering, too large and you will risk underwatering. In general, choose a plant pot that is 1-2 inches wider in circumference than the current size of your plant. Your plant will still have room to grow larger, but won’t be straining to fill every inch of a spacious pot and leave no energy for new growth. When you notice roots trailing out the drainage hole or poking through the top of the soil, your plant is ready for a pot upgrade.

Material
Most indoor plant pots are either clay, ceramic, or plastic. If you tend to overwater plants, an unglazed terra cotta pot is a good choice as the clay will soak up any excess water and moisture. If you despise the orange color of terra cotta, you can easily paint over it. Plastic pots are budget-friendly, easy to clean, and a light-weight choice for hanging plants. Ceramic pots often have the biggest variety in shape, color, and patterns, so are a good choice for aesthetic benefits. They might not have drainage holes, so don’t for get to inspect before buying.

Style
Once all other factors are considered, don’t forget to purchase a plant pot that complements your plant without overpowering it, too! A busy, colorful plant like the Snake Plant would do well in a terra cotta or smooth, white pot. A simple, monochromatic plant, such as the ZZ Plant, can be spruced up with a colorful, textured pot (see photo above). This is a great opportunity to get creative with different materials, colors, patterns, and textures! The plant pot you choose will help your plant stand out and provide an aesthetic touch to your home.

Do you find it difficult to choose the right pots for your plants? Hopefully this guide helps! If you have a go-to store for buying plant pots, I’d love to know in the comments!

XO,
Micah

How to Pot Houseplants in 3 Easy Steps

July 30, 2020 by micah catherine

One of the simplest ways you can ensure your new plants are healthy and growing strong is to pot them when they’ve outgrown their plastic nursery containers. If you’ve been nervous to pot houseplants you’ve recently purchased, or think it might be too late, don’t worry! Your plant can stay in its original container for weeks (and even months) before it’ll need a new home.

Just remember, plants thrive on the nutrients found in rich potting soil, in addition to soaking in light and water. It’s only natural that after some time, your plant will have benefited from much of the nutrients in the small amount of soil and will need to be re-potted. For plants still in their nursery pots, check for roots growing out of the drainage holes and up through the top of the soil. If so, it’s root bound and time to move your plant to a new pot! Here’s how:

1. Gently remove the plant from the current pot
Placing one had firmly at the base of the plant, turn it sideways and gently tap the bottom of the plastic pot. Then, squeeze carefully around the edges to loosen the soil and roots. Slowly pull the pot from the container being careful not to strain the stems.

2. Remove excess soil from the base and roots
This part can get tricky, so take your time and be gentle with the fragile roots. While still holding onto the base of your plant, use your other hand to massage the soil from around the roots. If your plant is root bound, these roots will most likely be large and winding, so you can uncurl them if needed. When most of the soil has been removed, your plant is ready to pot!

3. Secure the plant in the pot with fresh soil
This is the easy part! Before adding your plant to its new pot, put a small layer of soil at the bottom and pack it to remove any air pockets. Then center your plant in the pot and add soil until the roots are covered and the dirt is filled to just below the rim. Firmly, but gently, press the soil down around the base of the plant. Then give your newly potted houseplant a drink, watering until the soil is moist and water drips from the drainage hole.

You’re done! Now you know how to pot houseplants and can help them thrive in a bigger, healthier home. Have you been putting off potting? Or are you a pro? Tell me in the comments!

XO,
Micah