Repot (indoor) plants properly

Plants are not only a beautiful decoration for your home, they also help to improve air quality. In order to maintain healthy and strong houseplants, however, it is important to put them in new substrate regularly. In this article you will learn when is the ideal time to do this, what size the pot should be and how repot of indoor plants actually works. By following our tips, you can ensure your houseplant grows healthy and happy in its new container.

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

In general, houseplants are best in spring or early summer to transplant , when the growth of the plants is strongest. At this time, the plants are better able to adapt to their new habitat. However, the right time has always come when the plant has completely rooted through the pot and has thus completely filled the available space in the pot. You can sometimes recognize this by the fact that the root system is already growing out of the pot drain. Then you should act quickly and put the plant in a larger pot - no matter what time of year it is. 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 of great importance to encourage plant growth and the uptake of water and nutrients. A pot that is too small impairs root growth and leads to a limited nutrient and water balance. On the other hand, a pot that is too large will result in the roots growing in too much substrate area, unnecessarily focusing their energy on growing roots rather than leaves and stems. A good guide to pot size is to buy a pot at least a size or two larger.

Buy potting soil or mix substrates?

There are different possibilities regarding the choice of substrate. There is special potting soil for indoor plants on the market that is enriched with important nutrients and minerals. Alternatively, substrates themselves can be mixed together. A mixture of compost, perlite, biochar and coconut fiber are suitable for this. It is important to use peat-free potting soil, because draining peat emits a lot of CO2 and destroys entire habitats of special plant and animal species.

Step by step: This is how your plants will grow repotted

1. Choosing the right pot: The new pot should be slightly larger than the old one to give the plant's roots enough space to grow. The pot should also have a drainage hole to drain the irrigation water and prevent waterlogging.

2. Preparation: You can fill the bottom of the pot with a layer of gravel or expanded clay to improve water drainage. Then it is already 1/4 filled with new soil.

3. Remove the plant from the old pot: Gently tilt the old pot to the side and gently pinch the sides to release the plant.

4. Cleaning the roots: Gently remove the old soil from the root ball and use clean scissors to remove any damaged or dead roots. Roots can often rot, so pay attention to the condition of your green plant's roots.

5. Planting in the new pot : Place the plant in the center and fill the pot with soil until the pot is full. Press the plant down a little to ensure a stable hold.

6. Watering: Then water the plant thoroughly to wet the entire soil.

7. Choosing the right location : The plant should then be placed in a suitable location that offers enough light and humidity.

Big houseplants right repot

Large houseplants can be a challenge when it comes to transplanting them into new soil. Here are some tips to make the process easier:

• Use a pallet truck or cart to move your heavy plant
• If possible, ask for help and don't try to place the huge rootball plant in fresh soil alone
• A potting mat can help you avoid making a huge mess
• For very large plants, it is advisable to only change the pot every 2-3 years and increase the pot size directly by up to 3-4 numbers
• Fill the new pot already 1/4 with new substrate, then the transfer of the plant will work more smoothly

hydroponic plants repot

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

1. Remove the plant from the old substrate and remove it from the roots. The best way to do this is to rinse the roots thoroughly with water.

2. Prepare the new mineral substrate by soaking it in water to free it from dust.

3. Place the plant in the new water-permeable inner pot or container and fill in the mineral substrate, preferably expanded clay, around the roots. Make sure the plant is straight and upright. Then place the inner pot in a planter.

4. Water the plant with a nutrient solution. You should also use a water level indicator.

Fertilize after repot

In the new substrate, plants first need time to get used to their new home and to recover from the stress that arises when repotting. New potting soil and organic substrate contains many nutrients and the plant is usually sufficiently supplied for the first 4 weeks. After that, a continuous application of fertilizer twice a month is essential. The FARBIO® Nitrogen Bio-Boost supports your plants with nitrogen, which is not only essential for healthy growth, but also lets your plants shine with intense 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 so that the plant can survive in the new pot! All FARBIO® fertilizers can be used for hydroponics and will not burn the roots! The FARBIO® NPK organic liquid fertilizer for green plants is very well suited to providing your plants with the essential main nutrients.