This video explains what top-dressing is for houseplants. Find out when and why you want to top-dress your houseplants. Top-dressing, which refers to adding new soil and fertilizer to the top of a plant, is a good alternative to repotting. Find out what to use to top-dress your houseplants and when and how to do it. The various benefits of top-dressing your indoor garden plants.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you’ll see in the description section below. Also in the description section, you’ll see links to any videos that I mentioned during this video.
Today, I’m going to talk to you about top dressing houseplants. Top dressing refers to adding soil and fertilizers to the top part of the pot and around the plant. There are various reasons for doing this. One of the biggest reasons is that you might not have time to repot the plant but know it needs more nutrients and moisture. Alternatively, the plant may be too big for you to move by yourself, making top dressing a good option to provide it with new soil, helping it thrive and grow better.
Another reason for top dressing is if the plant was recently repotted but has tipped over, causing soil to fall out. If soil is coming out of the bottom of the pot when you water, or if the soil is overflowing as you water, you’ve likely lost too much. In these situations, top dressing can help.
For instance, you can see that the soil in this pot is low. You don’t want the plant to be too low in the pot, as this can lead to pests and diseases. Ideally, you should have about a quarter of an inch of space at the top of the pot, with the rest filled with soil.
When top dressing, use a good quality soil and mix in some fertilizers. My favorite soil is Pro Mix BX, which contains mycorrhizae and is pre-moistened. Pre-moistening the soil before top dressing is important because dry soil will sink when watered, leading to an uneven surface.
As I add the soil, this top dressing will provide new nutrients and protect the existing top layer of soil. The beneficial bacteria in the soil will become even healthier, making the plant thrive. I also like to mix in worm compost, which is mild and difficult to overdo. Additionally, I add some of my green gourmet house plant food, which contains natural growth hormones and beneficial elements.
As you mix in the fertilizers and worm compost, be sure to leave about a quarter of an inch of the pot rim exposed. You may need to lift the plant slightly to add soil underneath if it’s hanging over the edge. Press down gently but firmly with your fingers to create a compact top dressing. This will improve the plant’s growth and health, and it will hold more water, reducing the frequency of watering needed.
After filling in the soil, it’s essential to water with tepid or room temperature water until it flows out the bottom of the pot. This ensures the new soil absorbs moisture properly.
Keep track of when you performed the top dressing, as it’s similar to repotting. Monitoring the plant’s progress will help you understand which combinations of soil, worm compost, and fertilizers work best.
Thank you for stopping by today! Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see, and remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video.
Top Dressing Houseplants FAQ
What is top dressing?
Top dressing refers to adding soil and fertilizers to the top part of the pot and around the plant to provide it with nutrients and moisture.
Why should I top dress my houseplants?
Top dressing is beneficial when you don’t have time to repot the plant or if the plant is too large to move. It helps provide nutrients and can improve the health of the plant.
How much space should I leave at the top of the pot?
You should leave about a quarter of an inch of space at the top of the pot to prevent pests and diseases from festering.
What kind of soil should I use for top dressing?
Use a good quality soil like Pro Mix BX, which contains mycorrhizae and is pre-moistened. You can also mix in worm compost and fertilizers.
How do I know when to water after top dressing?
After top dressing, water the plant with tepid water until it flows out of the bottom of the pot to ensure proper moisture absorption.
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