Transplanting potted plantsis one of the most important care treatments. They usually have to be performed every year in the case of young plants, while in the case of older plants it is enough once every few years. What is the besttime for transplanting , what soil to transplant potted plants to, how to choosepots for transplantingand how to do the transplanting operation so as not to damage the plant? In just a moment, you will find out about the best ways for transplanted plants to quickly regain their vigor and he althy growth!
Transplanting potted plants
Deadline for transplanting potted plants
Generally the bestdeadline for transplanting potted plantsis March. This month, most plants complete their winter dormancy and begin their growing season. This is the moment when potted plants can best bear the stress of transplanting.
Replanting when the plants begin their growth periodalso has additional practical significance - at this point it is often necessary to just a bigger pot.
It is also worth noting that not all plants in our collection will require replanting. The youngest specimens (1 or 2 years old) need to be replanted every year.Older plants can be replanted less often- every 2 or 3 years (it all depends on the growth rate of the plant and whether the root ball is already outgrowing the pot)Adult specimens, growing in large pots, we replant even less often. For such plants, instead of regular transplanting, every 1-2 years, we only replace the top layer of the soil in the pot.
We should also remember thatnot all plants like to be transplantedAn example of a plant that does not tolerate this treatment is ficus, which after transplanting can even shed all its leaves. Providing the right conditions, however, the plant will release new leaves and regain its former appearance after a long time. Nevertheless, we should try to overdo ficuses as rarely as possible, only when it is really necessary.
When is it necessary to overdo it?
The fact thatplants need to be repottedis evidenced by the following symptoms:
- the plant has developed a lot of suckers and does not fit in the container,
- the roots of the plant overgrow the pot, they come out to the top of the ground or through the holes in the bottom of the pot,
- after watering all the water immediately flows out to the stand under the pot (probably the roots have already taken up the entire volume of the pot),
- the plant has grown quite large and easily falls over in a small pot,
- older plants lose their greenery, have no new growth, leaves begin to fall,
- the substrate in which the plant grows must be replaced with a new one, because it has lost its properties, the soil has become compact (crust), an unsightly sediment is formed on it.
We also replant plants that were not replanted after purchase . Very often the soil in pots with sold plants is only production soil and the plant will feel better after planting it in better soil. "
Transplanting potted plants. Roots overgrowing the pot
is a sign that the plant should be repotted
There are of course exceptions to the above rules. First of all,in March, we do not replant plants that bloom during this periodWe treat cacti and succulents differently (more about replanting cacti at the end of the text) and orchids. Orchids are rarely transplanted as these plants do not tolerate this procedure well.In addition, they require a fairly specific substrate and transparent pots.
In which pot should I transplant house plants?
Plants should be transplanted into potsonly slightly larger than the previous ones. The diameter of the new pot should be approximately 2 to 4 centimeters larger. The use of too large pots is not good for many plants (then some of them spend their strength on the growth of the root ball, instead of focusing on the development of shoots, foliage or beautiful flowers).
Each pot should have at the bottomholes to allow excess water to flow onto the stand. The lack of drainage holes may cause water to remain on the bottom of the pot (it is difficult to check, because it can happen even when the top layer of soil seems to be dry). Water remaining at the bottom of the pot in most plants will cause root rot.
Many people ask themselves -it is better to plant in ceramic or plastic pots?Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.Ceramic pots look more natural (especially in clay pots cacti and succulents look good), they are heavier than plastic (the plant is more stable) but unfortunately they are also much more expensive. In turn, plastic pots are economy and convenience. It is also easier to keep them clean. While the selection of different sizes, colors and shapes is excellent, not everyone likes them.
"An interesting argument fortransplanting potted plants into plastic potswas provided by prof. Zbigniew Pindel, writing in Działkowiec (No. 3/2009) that plants grow better in pots with impermeable walls, because the temperature of the earth in them is 1 - 2 ° C higher than in clay ones. Water evaporates slower from impermeable plastic pots, so plants growing in them can be watered a little less frequently than plants growing in ceramic pots. So the choice of plastic pots does not have to mean that we are just going the easy way.We are simply guided by the good of the plant. "
Transplanting potted plants - pot selection
At the end of my considerations about pots, it is worth mentioning that some plants are easier to grow in transparent containers. That is why orchids such as Phalaenopsis are sold in such pots. The transparent pot allows you to observe the condition and color of the roots (when the roots turn gray, the plant needs to be watered).
Soil for potted plants
Garden shops and flower shops have a wide range ofsubstrates for transplanting potted plantsfrom different groups (e.g. soil for palm trees, ferns, orchids). Such specialized lands, however, are generally more expensive than universal soil. Is it worth paying extra for them? The more so that growers simply grow most of their plants in garden peat!Well, peat works well as long as we strictly follow the rules of cultivation, watering and fertilization, and we maintain appropriate climatic conditions (air humidity, temperature).Plants that grow perfectly in peat when grown in greenhouses will not necessarily do well in our homes. Choosing a mixture specially composed for our plants will give us a greater chance that the plant will cope with it, even if we neglect it a bit.
Remember that some plants, such as orchids, need a specially prepared substrate. If you do not know how to get them yourself, you definitely need to choose a ready-made mixture for our plants.
For most plants, however, ordinary universal soil is enough. It should be permeable and slightly acidic. Tocheck that the earth is permeable enough , it is worth doing a little experiment. Let's fill the pot with soil and water it generously. In principle, the water should seep in immediately and flow out from the bottom of the pot. If this is not the case, it is worth mixing the soil with a small amount of sand, fine gravel or perlite. These are proven additions to horticultural substrates that improve soil properties. When buying land, it is worth choosing a product from a well-known manufacturer. This will give a better chance that the soil will be of good quality and we will not transfer diseases or pests with the soil.
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When transplanting plants that like a lot of moistureit is also worth considering providing additional protection and mixing soil with TerraCott. The hydrogel contained in TerraCottem absorbs excess water during watering (which would normally flow onto the stand or evaporate) and gives it back to the plant when the soil in the pot dries up. Thanks to this, we can extend the time between subsequent waterings (it will be useful when we want to go on vacation) and save a significant amount of water used for watering. Above all, however, TerraCottem, ensuring continuous access of moisture in the pot, makes the plants grow lush and bloom beautifully.
How to transplant potted plants
Transplanting potted plantsrequires some preparation. Well, a few hours before transplanting the plant, it is worth watering it abundantly. Thanks to this, it will be easier to take the plant out of the old pot, and the irrigated roots will better withstand the stress associated with transplanting.
Small plants to take them out of the potturn the bottom of the pot up and hold the ejector root ball. If the plant does not stick out, tap the pot a little.
Larger plants may need tofirst line the inner wall of the pot with a long knife(separate the root ball from the walls of the pot). Then, lift the plant upright.
Taking the plant out of the pot
Fig. depositphotos.com
When the plant is taken out of the pot , you need to check the condition of its roots. Compact, twisted roots need to be slightly loosened. If the long, thin roots are withered or rotten, they need to be trimmed.But be careful - you cannot do it with thick, fleshy roots (e.g. in palm trees). Such roots need to be handled very carefully.
To reduce plant stress associated with transplantingand thus ensure that the transplanting is successful, it is worth soaking the roots before planting the plant in fresh soil. inroot-stimulating preparationof plants. Thanks to this, any damaged, broken or trimmed roots will quickly regenerate, and the transplanted plant will regain its vigor and he althy growth.
One of the fewpreparations facilitating the regeneration of plant roots after transplantingis the SUPERSTART Root. It is sold in a cardboard box, inside which you will find a container with the preparation and a convenient measuring cup for easy dosing. This extremely effective and easy-to-use remedy can be purchased in our online store. I highly recommend!
Before placing the plant in a new pot, you need to put a thin layer of drainage on the bottom of the container (e.g.coarse gravel or expanded clay). Then we sprinkle a thin layer of soil, put a root ball in the pot and fill the soil to the top. At the end, lightly tamp the soil (tap the sides of the pot or press the soil with your hands) and water it abundantly. As a rule, fresh soil is rich in nutrients, so the first fertilization will not be necessary in about a month.
Note!When transplanting, many plants also require cutting the shoots. It is good to do this in plants with woody shoots (hibiscus, oleander, ficus). It is also worth trimming the shoots of easily branching plants, such as fuchsia, triple leaf, potted ivy or poinsettia. Thanks to this, they will grow better. Trimming the shoots is also advisable when we have shortened the roots of the plant (keeping the proportions between the roots and the above-ground part of the plant).
Replanting cacti
As I mentioned before, we do a bit differentlywhen transplanting cacti They require replanting no more often than every 2-3 years. It is best to replant them at the turn of January and February, because some of them bloom in March. Before transplanting cacti, we stop watering for a while so that the root ball dries well. We take out very carefully from the pot and look at the root system. During this inspection, we remove damaged and too long roots. If the roots were in perfect condition, we can replant them to a new pot. However, if we have removed any roots, it is good to leave the plant until the wounds dry and then plant in a new substrate. Do not water immediately after transplanting the plants. We start watering the transplanted cacti only after about 14 days.
When transplanting cactibe careful not to get hurt by their spines. You can cover them with a band made of e.g. newspaper or wear thick gloves. There are also special wooden tongs for transplanting cacti.
