Repot (indoor) plants properly

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

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

Generally, 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. However, the right time always comes when the plant has rooted completely through the pot and has therefore completely filled the available space in the pot. You can sometimes recognize this because the roots are 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 very important to promote plant growth and absorption of water and nutrients. A pot that is too small will affect root growth and lead to a limited nutrient and water balance. On the other hand, a pot that is too large will cause the roots to grow in too large an area of ​​substrate, thus unnecessarily concentrating their energy on growing roots instead of leaves and stems. A good guideline for pot size is to buy a pot at least one to two sizes larger.

Buy potting soil or mix substrates?

There are different options when it comes to choosing the substrate. There are special potting soils available commercially for houseplants that are enriched with important nutrients and minerals. Alternatively, substrates can also be mixed together themselves. A mixture of compost, perlite, biochar and coconut fiber are suitable. 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 become repotted

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

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

3. Remove the plant from the old pot: Carefully tip the old pot to the side and gently squeeze the side walls to loosen the plant.

4. Cleaning the roots: Gently 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 the roots of your green plant.

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 a little firmly to ensure a stable hold.

6. Watering: Then water the plant thoroughly to moisten all of the soil.

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

Big houseplants right repot

Large houseplants can present a challenge when it comes to planting them in new soil. 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 fresh soil alone
• A repotting mat can help you avoid making a huge mess
• For very large plants, it is recommended to only change the pot every 2-3 years and thereby increase the pot size by up to 3-4 sizes
• Fill the new pot 1/4 full with new substrate, then transferring 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 remove dust.

3. Place the plant in the new water-draining inner pot or container and fill 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 Repotting

In the new substrate, plants first need time to get used to their new home and to recover from the stress that occurs when repotting. New plant soil and organic substrate contain many nutrients and the plant is usually sufficiently supplied for the first 4 weeks. After that, continuous fertilizer application 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 makes your plants shine with intense leaf green!

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 ideal for supplying your plants with the essential nutrients.