Skip to content
All live plants include Happy & Healthy Guarantee.
Frond & Folia Frond & Folia
Account
Search
Loading...
Navigate to
  • Home
  • Live Plants

  • Planters & Terrariums

  • Tools & Supplies

  • Plant Flair & Gifts

  • Moss Art & Vertical Gardens

  • Learn & Grow
Cart
  • Home
  • Live Plants

    Live Plants
    • All Plants

      All Plants
    • Plants by Type/Genus
    • Low Light Plants

      Low Light Plants
    • Pet-Friendly Plants

      Pet-Friendly Plants
    • Easy & Beginner Plants

      Easy & Beginner Plants
    • Unusual & Hard-to-Find Plants

      Unusual & Hard-to-Find Plants
    • Trees & Large Floor Plants

      Trees & Large Floor Plants
    • Shop All Our Collections
  • Planters & Terrariums

    Planters & Terrariums
    • Pots, Planters & Pot Covers

      Pots, Planters & Pot Covers
    • Terrariums & Accessories

      Terrariums & Accessories
    • Propagation Stations
    • Uplift Planter with Grow Light
  • Tools & Supplies

    Tools & Supplies
    • Potting Tools & Accessories

      Potting Tools & Accessories
    • Watering Cans & Misters

      Watering Cans & Misters
    • Grow Lights & Growframes

      Grow Lights & Growframes
    • Moisture & Light Meters

      Moisture & Light Meters
    • Soils & Amendments

      Soils & Amendments
    • Plant Nutrients & Fertilizers

      Plant Nutrients & Fertilizers
    • Plant Support Stakes, Moss Pole, Ties & Labels

      Plant Support Stakes, Moss Pole, Ties & Labels
    • Gloves, Aprons & Gathering Bags

      Gloves, Aprons & Gathering Bags
    • Vertical Garden & Terrarium Kits

      Vertical Garden & Terrarium Kits
  • Plant Flair & Gifts

    Plant Flair & Gifts
    • Vertical Garden and Terrarium Kits

      Vertical Garden and Terrarium Kits
    • Jewelry & Accessories

      Jewelry & Accessories
    • Enamel Pins, Keychains & Iron-On Patches

      Enamel Pins, Keychains & Iron-On Patches
    • T-Shirts & Tote Bags

      T-Shirts & Tote Bags
    • Notebooks, Bookmarks, Stickers & More

      Notebooks, Bookmarks, Stickers & More
    • Indoor Herb Garden & Gift Collections

      Indoor Herb Garden & Gift Collections
  • Moss Art & Vertical Gardens

    Moss Art & Vertical Gardens
    • Handmade Moss Art Collection

      Handmade Moss Art Collection
    • Vertical Garden & Terrarium Kits

      Vertical Garden & Terrarium Kits
  • Learn & Grow
  • Account
  • Home
  • / Learn & Grow Blog
  • / Is it Time to Repot My Plant?

Is it Time to Repot My Plant?

Is it Time to Repot My Plant?

Repotting your plants is an essential part of plant ownership and care. Performing this process gives the owner a chance to examine the plants roots, which can provide insight into a plant’s health. However, it is very important not to repot your plants unnecessarily as it by nature can be stressful to the plant and its root system. With most plants, unless there is something of concern about the current soil or container, we always recommend waiting until a plant’s roots have outgrown its current pot before repotting.

Checking Your Plants Root System

While there are several signals and reasons why a plant may be ready to be re-potted, we always like to check its actual root system before making the final call. Typically, if you begin to see the plants roots are pushing out through the drainage holes in the bottom of its pot, it is undoubtedly ready to be re-potted into a larger container. If you don’t see roots poking through the current pots drainage holes just yet, you will want to check your plants root system. Lay the pot on its side and gently shimmy your plant out of the pot just partially so you can get a good look at its roots and soil. It is best to do this when the plants soil is in the process of drying out and is only slightly moist. This will ensure that the soil does not shift too much and leave you with a mess.

Upon inspection, if you see that many plants roots are starting to circle around the inside of the pot it is safe to go-ahead and re-pot the plant. If you find that the plant has roots that have not yet reached the exterior walls of the current pot it will be best to leave it for now and allow the roots some more time to develop. If you plant is in a plastic nursery pot that you want to cover, a cachepot\pot cover may be the perfect option.

New Plants & Acclimating

When bringing a new plant into your home, it should always be given at least 2 weeks to acclimate to your home. This is especially important with plants ordered by mail, as they need extra rest to de-stress from their journey. Changes in environment can be stressful for some plants, and it will take time for your plant to get used to its environment. While your plant is going through this acclimation period, it would be wise to allow it to rest.

Get to Know Your Plants & Their Individual Needs

Before re-potting, we would strongly encourage you to do some research regarding your particular plant. You may learn that your Monstera plant grows fast with large roots and likes to be re-potted often, or that your Peperomia has very fine and fewer roots that prefer to be bound, just like your Hoya. Like people, each plant and its needs are different. Different environments also dictate different needs. As you become more comfortable with different types of plants, their root systems, and your growing environment, choosing the right time to re-pot your plants will become more natural and intuitive. This is why we encourage you to spend the time to get to know your plants on an individual basis. They will reward you greatly for it!

Always keep in mind that your plants root system is naturally a very sensitive structure. In nature, a plant would almost never be uprooted and disturbed the way that it is as a houseplant. Be gentle and respectful with your plant, especially when handling its root system.

Other Signs or Reasons That it is Time to Repot

You may notice that you are having to water your plant more often than you used to. Many times, this is because the plants roots have out grown the current pot. You may also notice that the soil is drying out quickly or not fully absorbing water. This means the soil may be hydrophobic and past its prime. You may find a pest. The plant may currently be in a soil or pot with poor drainage. All of these are great reasons to go-ahead and repot your plant. Just be sure you don’t up the size of the container unless the roots have outgrown the current size.

A Note on Selecting the Proper Size Pot

As a rule, when a plant has outgrown its current pot, the new pot should only be about one size larger (around 2” in diameter and height). Therefore, a 2” starter plant should be potted up into a 3" to 4” pot, and a plant in a 4” pot should be potted up into a pot around 5” to 6” in diameter, and so on and so forth. Choosing a pot which is too large for your plant and its roots can result in problems and heartache. An oversized pot will encourage slow drying. If the plants root system is not large enough to drink the water in the soil, this will cause it to become overwhelmed with water and will eventually cause root rot. An overly large pot can also encourage your plant to direct energy towards root growth rather than foliage growth.

Share this:
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin it

0 comments

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

  • Plant Care
  • Repotting

Next

Pet Friendly Non-Toxic Houseplants

Pet Friendly Non-Toxic Houseplants

Categories

  • Plant Care
  • Repotting

Get updates

  • Contact Us
  • Happy & Healthy Guarantee
  • Returns & Exchanges
  • Shipping & Handling
  • Plant & Product Requests
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Search
  • Sitemap
  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
Copyright © 2023 Frond & Folia. Powered by Shopify
Amazon American Express Apple Pay Diners Club Discover Meta Pay Google Pay Mastercard PayPal Shop Pay Venmo Visa