We usually buy plants from a nursery. Some people buy as fond of plant collection, environment lovers, or sources of oxygen. Usually, we buy plants in poly bags, plastic pots, Terracotta pots, etc. Not all pot materials are suitable for specific/particular plants. So repotting becomes necessary over a period of time. Sometimes due to not suitability of the pot for the plant.
Earthen pots provide good aeration for plant root zones whereas plastic pots too to some extent. But not provide good aeration for the plants. It doesn’t mean plastic pots are bad but some plants don’t grow well in that.
If we are repotting plants from one pot to another pot or from poly bag to pot follow the below guidelines while repotting.
All you have to repot outdoor and indoor plants without making them dead / how to repot plants without killing it.
When using clay for Terracotta pots rinse them and soak them in water so that tiny pores in the clay pot get fully saturated. Thus when you plant a pot it maintains aeration.
Before planting for precautionary purposes you can also spray Neem oil on the inner wall of the pot to avoid insects in the soil of the pot. this can be practiced for both new and old Terracotta pots. you are using for the repotting.
Table of Contents
Now when you remove the plant from the old pot
- Stop watering plants before the 2 days, so the root ball becomes harder which will make your uprooting of the plant from the old pot easy. And root zone of the plant will not get damaged.
- So chances of the plant survival will increase.
- Always check for holes in the bottom of the plant pots. Either a plastic pot or a Terracotta pot.
- Because it is a must to have drainage for the water, otherwise plants may have some root rot problems. Otherwise, plants may die.
- Whatever pot is used for reporting always use some small-medium size i.e. Two to four-inch broken old terracotta pot parts over the drainage hole very first before reporting starts. Or You can try putting a coffee paper filter on the drainage hole.
- We need to do this because we want to drain excess water and it doesn’t allow earth soil to drain from the pot. This will act as a Filter for plant mixture.
- Use the ideal pot mixture for your plant repotting. Find a universal potting mixture at the end of this article.
- Now carefully uproot the plant from the pot. In some cases earthen pots may get broken also just for information.
- Remove the soil and the mixture from the bottom of the pot-bound root ball of the plant you are reporting. without damaging the roots too much.
- So there will be a space for the new nutrients plant mixture in the pot you are going to repotting.
- Now feel the new pot half with the new plant mixture then put the old plant in the center of the pot.
- Then put the soil mixture in spaces around the root ball and push the soil firmly with both hand hands evenly around.
- Add some water to settle the soil mixture and plant.
- It’s good to leave the pot empty at least 2 inches from the rim of the pot. You may also add some rooting hormone solution to the pot.
- This is how you have properly reporting done Don’t forget to share with your friends and gardening folks.
- After the watering plant pot, the water you pour is a bit muddy In your next replanting of the plant.
Must points to avoid while repotting
- One should avoid a pot that is far bigger than a recent pot, a little bit larger pot than the old one is good, a Larger pot may lead to moist soil. Thus it may damage the root zone also.
- Be careful while repotting the plant and care for the root ball so as not to remove too many roots, just sticky root ends to soil can be removed. We will recommend at least 70-80% of the root ball should the ball to intact.
- Always know your plant and which soil it likes the most. so it will flourish well after the repotting. Find the best suitable potting mix.
But anybody beginner here doesn’t know what to use I am suggesting here a universal potting mixture / basic potting mixture.
- Earth soil- 60%
- Cocopeat – 20% ( can vary 20-30%)
- River sand – 20% ( can vary 10-20%)
- Perlite – 10% (can vary 5-10%)