Okay, so, I finally got around to repotting some of my plants the other day. It was way overdue, honestly. They were getting pretty root-bound in their old pots. I’ve got this spider plant that was practically busting out of its container, and a peace lily that was looking all sad and droopy. Time for an upgrade!
First, I laid out some newspaper on my kitchen table to keep the mess contained. I mean, I know, it isn’t gonna make it look like I’m doing it on a balcony, but it gets the job done. Then, I gathered all my supplies: new pots, fresh potting mix, and my trusty watering can. Oh, and I made sure to have a little trowel on hand to help loosen the soil.
I started with the spider plant. I gently squeezed the sides of its old pot to loosen the root ball, and then carefully pulled it out. Man, those roots were packed in there! I used my fingers to gently tease apart the roots, trying not to damage them too much. There was some dry, old soil clinging to the roots, so I brushed that off as best as I could. I saw some new growth, so I took extra care not to break those fragile bits.
Next, I put a layer of fresh potting mix into the new, bigger pot. I placed the spider plant on top, making sure it was centered, and then filled in around the roots with more soil. I pressed down lightly to make sure the plant was secure but didn’t pack it too tightly. I did the same process with my peace lily, a snake plant and some others. They all got their root balls loosened and a bit of a trim before going into their new homes.
Now, here’s the thing about watering after repotting: you gotta wait! I know, it’s tempting to give them a big drink right away, especially when they look a little wilted from the whole ordeal. But trust me, it’s better to hold off. I learned this the hard way a while back when I nearly drowned a poor little succulent after repotting it. It’s not pretty.
Turns out, plants go into a bit of shock after being repotted. Those roots need time to heal, especially if any of them got damaged during the process. Watering right away can actually make things worse. I read somewhere that you should wait about a week before watering. That sounded like a bit much, so I decided to wait for a couple of days to see how they were doing.
In the meantime, I gave the leaves a gentle misting to help them perk up a bit. I also made sure they were in a spot with indirect sunlight, nothing too harsh. I remembered reading that you should let tap water sit for about 24 hours before using it on plants, especially if it has chlorine. Mine usually has a strong chemical smell. I did it, then, after 24 hours I used it to water my lovely plants. So, I kept a close eye on them over the next few days, checking the soil with my finger. When it felt dry about an inch down, that’s when I finally gave them a good watering.
To sum it up:
- I repotted my plants because they were root-bound.
- I prepped my workspace and gathered supplies.
- I carefully removed the plants from their old pots and loosened their roots.
- I repotted them in larger containers with fresh potting mix.
- I waited a couple of days before watering them thoroughly.
They seem pretty happy in their new pots now. The spider plant is already putting out new babies, and the peace lily’s leaves are looking much perkier. Repotting can be a bit of a messy job, but it’s so worth it to see your plants thrive!
