How to transplant a houseplant in 3 steps without harming it

Sometimes just the thought of repotting a favorite plant causes anxiety. Of course, the flower will be much more comfortable in a new pot, but this simple procedure can easily harm it. Experts told what to do to prevent this from happening.

How do you know when it's time to repot a plant?

Florist and plant "doctor" Maria Green identifies two main reasons for transplanting. First, the plant needs fresh soil filled with nutrients. The second - he does not have enough space for growth, which means that he needs a bigger pot.

Sometimes the flower itself gives a sign that it is time for him to change his “place of residence”. For example, his old leaves begin to fall off and young ones grow at the same time. This happens because the new roots simply do not have enough space and are squeezed by the old ones.

In addition, it is time to repot the plant as soon as possible if the roots have turned into a round dense “web”, stick out of the drainage holes, or are visible due to insufficient soil.

Another dangerous sign is a change in the color of the soil. Small white pebbles called perlite can turn yellow or brown. This means that it is time to update the soil.

Young and fast growing plants need to be repotted every six months, with older plants the procedure can be repeated every few years. At the same time, huge indoor flowers do not have to be transplanted. According to Maria Green, sometimes just adding the top fertile layer is enough.

Professional gardener Susan Spanger advises repotting in late winter/early spring.

How to do a transplant

1. Choose the right pot

A new pot does not always have to be much larger than the previous one. If the plant has not increased in size, you can even not change the pot, but only update the soil mixture and add nutrients to it.

If the flower has grown too big and the pot needs to be replaced, choose one that is only slightly larger than the old one. Plant "doctor" Maria Green notes that the free space between the flower and the edge of the pot should not exceed 2–5 cm.

Choosing a pot that is too large increases the risk of overwatering the plant and can lead to root rot due to the flower floating in the soil.

2. Carefully inspect and process the roots

After you take the plant out of the old pot, Maria Green recommends untangling the roots. In this case, do not pull too hard. It is necessary to carefully clean the root system of the old soil in order to prepare for moving to a new one.

If the roots are too tightly and tangled, gardener Susan Spanger advises cutting off the tips slightly to loosen the roots. This will help the flower to grow better in a new place.

3. Move plant

First, the pot must be filled with suitable fresh soil by a third to leave room for the growth of new roots. You can always add more soil if needed.

Then you should place the roots exactly in the middle of the pot, so that in the end they are sufficiently covered with earth. Once you have found the correct position, carefully spread the soil around and over the roots. This will give them the freedom to grow and expand.

Before adding a new layer, the soil must be smoothed. Maria Green advises checking the ground with your finger - if it falls inward, then the soil is not dense enough and you can still “tread down” the soil. It is important to leave up to three centimeters of free space on top of the pot so that water does not overflow.

Immediately after transplanting, the plant should be slightly moistened. And the next week, on the contrary, do not water the flower to give it the opportunity to get used to the new pot.

The video instruction will help to understand all the details: