National Repot Your Plant Day! Repotting: good for plants, good for you!

Greetings to all container gardeners! Hang in there—spring is coming!

Speaking of spring, early spring is an ideal time to repot houseplants or begin new container gardens.

Repotting in early spring has a few key advantages:

  • Spring begins the plant’s active growing season
  • You get to renew the “tired” soil in the existing pot, and thereby give the plant a fresh supply of essential nutrients.
  • Stepping up to a larger pot gives the plant roots more room to grow
  • You can use this as a time to change the style of pots you’re using or as a way to enhance your home’s decor with a colorful container.
  • You reap the emotional benefits that come with repotting; you feel good when you know you’re doing something good for your plant. Repotting in early spring is a great way to shake off the winter blahs!

What you need: larger pot with drainage holes; potting mix; a trowel.

The new container should be just one size larger than the original. If the new pot is too large, you might tend to overwater.

To clean a used pot, use water mixed with a little bleach to kill any harmful organisms. Soak dirty clay pots in a mild bleach solution overnight and then wash to remove white fertilizer salts from the inside walls.

Repotting takes 4 easy steps:

  1. Fill one third of the new pot with fresh potting mix.
  2. Remove the plant from the old pot. Shake off the old potting mix from the root mass. If the roots are tightly wound, gently slice the root ball in two or three places with a trowel.
  3. Insert the plant into the new pot. The crown of the plant should be about one inch below the lid. Add more potting mix and press gently.
  4.  Water thoroughly.
  5. After 30 days, we recommend following up with a regular feeding schedule.