Repotting houseplants correctly

Plants are not only a beautiful decoration for your home, but also contribute to improving air quality. To maintain healthy and strong houseplants, however, it is important to regularly repot them in new substrate. In this article, you will learn when the ideal time is, what size pots should be, and how to do this. mtopfen of houseplants actually works. If you follow our tips, you can ensure that your houseplant thrives healthily and happily in its new container.

The right time: When should a plant get a new pot?

In general, it is best to plant houseplants in spring or early summer to transplant , when plant growth is at its strongest. At this time, the plants are better able to adapt to their new habitat. The right time, however, is always when the plant has completely rooted its roots through the pot and has therefore completely filled the available space in the pot. You can sometimes tell this is the case because the roots are already growing out of the pot drainage. In that case, however, you should act quickly and move the plant to a larger pot - regardless of the time of year. Otherwise, the plant may no longer develop optimally because it does not have enough space to grow.

The right pot size

Choosing the right container is crucial to promoting plant growth and the absorption of water and nutrients. A pot that's too small will impair root growth and limit nutrient and water availability. A pot that's too large, on the other hand, will cause the roots to grow in too large a substrate area, unnecessarily concentrating their energy on root growth rather than leaves and stems. A good guideline for pot size is to buy a pot at least one or two sizes larger.

Buy potting soil or mix substrates?

There are various options when it comes to choosing a substrate. Special potting soil for houseplants is available commercially, enriched with important nutrients and minerals. Alternatively, you can mix your own substrates. A mixture of compost, perlite, biochar, and coco fiber is suitable for this. It is important to use peat-free potting soil, because draining peat releases large amounts of CO2 and destroys entire habitats of certain plant and animal species.

In this video you will learn more about substrates and we will show you how to mix your own soil!

Step by step: How to repot your plants

Choosing the right pot: The new pot should be slightly larger than the old one to allow the plant's roots enough room to grow. The pot should also have a drainage hole to allow water to drain away and prevent waterlogging.
Preparation: You can fill the bottom of the pot with a layer of gravel or expanded clay to improve drainage. Then fill it 1/4 full with new soil.
Remove plant from old pot: Carefully tilt the old pot to the side and gently squeeze the sides to release the plant.
Cleaning the roots: Carefully remove the old soil from the root ball and, if necessary, remove any damaged or dead roots with clean scissors. Roots can often rot, so pay attention to the condition of your plant's roots.
Planting in the new pot : Place the plant in the center and fill the pot with soil until it's full. Press the plant down firmly to ensure stability.
Watering after repotting your houseplant: Water the plant thoroughly afterward to moisten the entire soil. Our FARBIO® Soil Improver is a natural and effective additive for your soil. Its special formula with humic acids optimizes the soil, improving nutrient uptake and promoting plant growth.
Choose the right location : The plant should then be placed in a suitable location that offers enough light and humidity.

Repotting large houseplants correctly

Large houseplants can be challenging when it comes to repotting them. Here are some tips to make the process easier:

Use a pallet jack or cart to move your heavy plant
If possible, ask for help and do not try to plant the plant with a huge root ball in the fresh soil alone
A repotting mat can help you avoid leaving a huge mess
For very large plants, it is recommended to change the pot only every 2-3 years and to increase the pot size by up to 3-4 sizes
Fill the new pot already 1/4 with new substrate, then the transfer of the plant will work more smoothly

In this video we explain the basics of plant care – for your green thumb!

Repotting hydroponic plants

If you want to transfer a plant from a soil substrate to a hydroponic system, you should consider the following:

Remove the plant from the old substrate and remove the soil from the roots. This is best achieved by thoroughly rinsing the roots with water.
Prepare the new mineral substrate by soaking it in water to remove any dust.
Place the plant in the new, permeable inner pot or container and fill the mineral substrate, preferably expanded clay, around the roots. Make sure the plant is standing straight and upright. Then place the inner pot in a planter.
Water the plant with a nutrient solution. You should also use a water level indicator.

Fertilizing after repotting houseplants

Plants need time to adjust to their new home in the new substrate and recover from the stress of repotting. New potting soil and organic substrate contain plenty of nutrients, and plants are usually adequately supplied for the first four weeks. After that, a continuous fertilization twice a month is essential. FARBIO® Nitrogen Bio-Boost supports your plants with nitrogen, which is not only essential for healthy growth but also makes your plants truly shine with their vibrant green leaves!

This is different with hydroponics, semi-hydroponics, and mineral substrates – these are often not pre-fertilized, and fertilizer must be added directly when watering to ensure the plant can survive in the new pot! All FARBIO® fertilizers can be used for hydroponics and will not burn the roots! FARBIO® NPK organic liquid fertilizer for green plants is ideal for providing your plants with the essential nutrients.