Find out what you need to do to prepare to repot your houseplant. Discover the various things to do before you repot your houseplant so that it thrives once you repot it. These tasks include cleaning the pot and sterilizing it, if necessary. You also learn about getting the soil ready for repotting, too.
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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 comment section below. You’ll also see in the description below any links to any other videos that I’ve done that I mention, including links to the other parts of this repotting series.
This is part 4: preparing to repot. This is when you’re getting ready; you have various things to do to get ready to repot. The first thing, and one of the most important things, is to water the plant that will be repotted.
So, this is Marvin—meet Marvin! He is a star of this series here and he needs to be repotted, as we have determined in prior videos. Now, what we’re going to do is water the plant before you repot; at least 15-20 minutes before you repot is ideal. You want to water it really well to moisten it. Ideally, if you can water it the day before, that’s even better, but it’s not the end of the world if you haven’t. Just make sure to give it some moisture.
So, I am going to water him right now. He is constantly thirsty, which is one of the signs that he needed repotting, so he is going to soak that up. You want to soak as much as you can down to below in the pot. One of the reasons you’re doing this is so that the plant can take up a little bit of water, but also to keep the roots moist when you expose them to the air.
One thing you don’t want to do when you’re repotting is leave the roots exposed to air for too long. If you need to take a break—say, for lunch—finish repotting the plant first, or keep it in the pot and don’t take it out until you’re ready to repot. You don’t want to leave it lying around for more than five minutes, especially if it’s hot out or if you’re in a really dry climate, or if you have the heater or air conditioning on.
When you water it, it’s good if the water is coming out of the bottom of the pot. That tells me I’ve done a good job of getting the soil wet down to the root zone. I’m going to set that aside while we continue to get ready for the repotting process.
The next thing is preparing the pot itself. I decided not to go with one pot because it didn’t look as good as this terracotta pot. Terracotta pots allow moisture to escape from all sides, including the drainage hole at the bottom. If you decide on a terracotta pot, I suggest using a clay pot sealer to retain some moisture.
Using a sealing will help keep the moisture in, and it’s very important if you’re growing succulents, but for other plants, it can help too. Just make sure to follow the directions carefully and let it dry completely before you repot. This isn’t something I would want to do right now and then start repotting. I want to give it the appropriate amount of time according to the directions for drying.
Now, this is the pot I decided on using, and hopefully, it will be the right size once I take the plant out of its container. However, I want to get it ready right now. You can see it has a drainage hole. You always want to get pots that have drainage holes; it’s very important.
I like to cover up the drainage hole, and one of my favorite things to use is drywall tape because it comes in a roll that’s easy to manage. It’s essentially screening; you can also use regular screen or cut out round circles of screening for this purpose. I’m putting this in here to cover up the drainage hole, so that’s another prep thing I’ve done.
Also, I’ve cleaned the pot. If the pot previously had a plant in it that had a disease issue, such as root rot, you want to sterilize the pot. The best way to do that is to take a bucket and fill it with nine parts water to one part bleach. Mix it up well and let it soak for about 30 minutes. Rinse it out thoroughly before using it again; this helps eliminate any lingering bacteria.
Another thing you want to do is prepare the soil. You want to add worm castings, pumice for drainage, and organic fertilizers that contain growth hormones and nutrients. You want to mix these in well before you actually put the soil in the pot to ensure that those nutrients are well distributed throughout the soil for optimal root health.
So, we’re going to mix in our amendments, and then we’re going to pack this pot with soil, making sure it’s well mixed. You don’t want to just dump it in. So, we’re packing in this soil and amending it for a while, and I will show you how to pack it in properly, and that’s very important.
So that’s it for now; we’ll be ready to start repotting.
Preparing for Repotting: FAQs
Why is it important to water the plant before repotting?
Watering the plant before repotting helps moisten the soil and keeps the roots hydrated when exposed to air, preventing them from drying out.
How long before repotting should I water my plant?
It is ideal to water the plant at least 15-20 minutes before repotting. If possible, watering the day before is even better.
What signs indicate that a plant needs repotting?
One sign that a plant needs repotting is if it appears constantly thirsty, meaning it is not retaining enough moisture in its current pot.
How should I prepare the pot for repotting?
Choose a pot with drainage holes and clean it thoroughly. If it previously held a plant, sterilize it by soaking in a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach for about 30 minutes.
Why are drainage holes important in pots?
Drainage holes allow excess water to escape, preventing root rot and ensuring healthy root growth.
What should I do if I need to take a break during repotting?
Finish repotting the plant before taking a break. If you must stop, keep the plant in its pot until you’re ready to continue to avoid exposing the roots to air for too long.
What soil amendments should I add before repotting?
Add worm castings, pumice for drainage, and organic fertilizers containing growth hormones and nutrients to ensure optimal root health.
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