7 Mistakes to Avoid When Repotting Plants
Repotting plants and flowers might sound like a simple enough task, but it requires more effort and thought than you might have otherwise thought. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a green-fingered beginner, I thought I'd put together a few mistakes to avoid when repotting plants, regardless of what they are. So, here are seven of them to avoid if you want the plant to grow healthily and successfully.
1. Choosing a pot that's either too big or too small
One of the biggest mistakes that someone can make when repotting plants is choosing the wrong pot. They're either way too big or way too small. Choosing one that's too small can cause the plant to become root bound, or pot bound as it's also referred to.
Picking a pot that's too big, on the other hand, will hold onto excess moisture for longer. If the roots can't use the water quick enough, then the compost will remain wet and water-logged, which can cause root rot.
When choosing a pot for your plant, pick one that's slightly larger than the existing one. Generally, moving up by only one pot size is usually sufficient enough. We like the Heritage posts for a good and consistent pot sizes. While they can be costly, they will last for years.
2. Using the wrong compost
Different plants have different needs, and that often means making sure that you're using the right compost to keep them healthy and happy. Using a general, multi-purpose compost isn't always sufficient for every single plant. For instance, tree Peonies need sandy soil, while heather needs acidic soil. You should read and research the plant carefully before committing and planting it out in a different pot.
3. Picking the wrong time of year
It might sound silly, but there's a good time and a bad time to repot your plants. Many plants and flowers will do better when repotted during their active growing season. But this isn't always the same for all plants and flowers. Others need to be transplanted in the autumn and others in early spring. Again, do the research before potting your plant to ensure it thrives.
4. Roughing up the roots too much
Roots are tough, but with a lot of plants, they can be overly delicate. Pulling, tearing and cutting can damage them and their growth will then suffer as a result. Instead, inspect the root system and gently tease them apart and rough them up a bit. Handle the root ball gently and only when necessary. This is especially important with young plants or plants that are delicate.
5. Neglecting drainage
Drainage is paramount no matter the plant you're repotting. If drainage isn't right, then it can water log the plant and cause the roots to rot. This will, in turn, kill the plant that you've repotted. So, good drainage is required.
While a new pot will come with sufficient drainage holes, you need to add a layer of broken pots and ceramic, covering the drainage hole at the bottom to prevent soil from coming out the bottom.
You should also add a layer of gravel or grit to the bottom of the pot for good measure. Again, research is needed as some plants require grit to be mixed up the soil for added drainage.
6. Planting at the wrong depth
If you repot your plant too deep down, it can rot the stems. If you repot it too far up, it will expose the roots and the plant will die. You need to make sure that it's repotted at the correct depth. It all comes down to research. Look up the correct burial depth before committing.
7. Ignoring what the plant needs
The simply way to make sure that your plant thrives when repotted is to just read the label that the plant comes with. If you're still in doubt, look through a gardening book, I like the ones by Monty Don, or look it up on the internet.
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it useful. Let me know in the comments below if you have any other tips for repotting plants and I'll see you all again soon with some brand new content!
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