Just last week I was enjoying 80° and sunshine on my patio, tonight it’s a cold 45° and raining outside. We’ve had some crazy weather but I’m not going to let that get me down. My yard is looking great, the trees finally have their leaves and I know warmer weather is right around the corner. She’s just teasing us.
Since I was forced back inside for a few days I decided to make the best of my time and repot some of my indoor plants that were begging for more room to grow. A good friend of mine told me long ago, the best time to repot houseplants is in the spring, before the new summer growth. So I turned on some Van Morrison, put down some newspaper to catch the dirt and got started.
To remove the plant, I turn the pot over and tug the pot up and away from the root ball gently pulling it out from the pot. Do not yank a plant out of its pot by the stem. You should then prepare the root ball by gently loosening the ball with your fingers. Be careful not to cause damage to the root. Look for dead or rotted roots and cut them away from the healthy root ball.
The general rule of thumb is to only repot a plant up one size pot, (ex. 4” pot to 6” pot not 4” to 8”). Place the plant in the pot, keeping the depth of the newly potted plant the same as it was in the original pot. Make sure not to plant it too deep. Gently press the soil down around the root ball as your filling it with dirt and tap the pot to help the dirt settle. Water thoroughly until water seeps from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, and if needed, add more soil to the top.
Now I’m ready for the weekend. The Local Weatherman is calling for sunny and 70°. My fresh, repotted plants will be a great accent piece on my patio. I need to dust off my patio furniture, put out my garden lanterns and invite some friends over – I’m looking forward to the warmer temperatures again when I can get outside. Enjoy your home and garden!
May 12, 2010 – Welcome to Our World Austin Joseph, Happy Healthy Life!
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