the 6 main mistakes to avoid

You love your houseplants and take good care of them. But maybe you are making mistakes when repotting them? Here are 6 to avoid to keep your plants healthy.

Are the roots of your plant coming out of the holes under the pot? Are they visible on the surface? When you sprinkle, the water goes directly into the cup? Is your plant turning yellow, appearing in distress, or is it often affected by diseases or pests? These signs show that your plant needs to be repotted. But before you get started, a little reminder of the 6 most common mistakes to avoid in order to keep your plant in good health.

When to repot your plants?

In general, it is necessary to repot newly purchased plants, as they are often grown in pots that are a little too small. Subsequently, repotting is done: every year, for a young plant in full growth; every 2 or 3 years thereafter. Early spring is the best time to repot, another possible time being late summer. Repotting is also necessary when the roots are too cramped and cannot develop further.

Mistake # 1: choosing a pot that is too small … or too big

The size of the pot is the most important thing in the whole repotting process. A plant needs a pot of the right size, neither too small nor too large: as it grows, it is necessary to offer it successive pots giving its roots room to flourish. Always choose a pot one size larger than the previous one. Thus, the roots will have enough space to develop and the soil will not be saturated with water for several days after watering.

Mistake # 2: ignoring the importance of drainage

When repotting, drainage also plays an important role for the well-being of the newly repotted plant. For this, it is necessary that the pot is provided with drainage holes in order to allow the water to drain. When buying your new pot, be sure to check for holes. If your pot does not have one, you can pierce a few at the bottom.

You can also make a drainage bed. To do this, place a layer of gravel, pot shards or clay balls at the bottom of your pot. Then cover this level (your layer of clay balls or shards) with potting soil added with fertilizer.

Mistake # 3: completely breaking the root ball

Be very careful when removing the plants. Pat the bottom of the pot then lay it down; hold the base of the stems in one hand and gently loosen the root ball with your fingers. Pat again if the root ball resists. If the roots are very tight and deeply tangled, soak the root ball in water for a few hours or overnight: this will make it easier for you.

Mistake # 4: choosing the wrong soil

The type of soil to be used should be chosen according to the species of the plant. For example, if you are growing a dracaena, yucca, or rubber tree, use potting soil with large particles like lava rock or perlite. This will allow good drainage and good root development. For cacti, use a cacti potting mix consisting mainly of soil, sand, peat, and pozzolana.

Mistake # 5: repot your plants in winter

If you live in a cold climate, avoid repotting your plants in the winter as they may experience transplant shock which can kill them. Wait until summer or spring to repot them. If you live in a hot climate, you can repot the plant any time you think it is cramped in its pot.

Mistake # 6: repot a large plant

If the plant is growing well and is tall and happy, there is no need to repot it. This is probably quite heavy and bulky and you risk damaging it. To give it some vigor, prefer surfacing. The goal is to bring new nutrients to the plant. To do this, scrape the surface with a claw and remove about 5 centimeters of soil. Then add a layer of potting soil mixed with compost that you will tamp. And voila !

Indoor plants: the 6 most common mistakes to avoid

Video by Virginie Incerto