Need to transition from water to soil
#Philodendron
I have a pitcher with Philodendron propogations that have been living in water for a year. I originally was just babysitting the props for my mom while she was out of state for a month last June but then I just never gave them back 😳😅 I've wanted to move them into a hanging basket for a long time but my boyfriend says it's really hard to switch from water to soil, especially after so long. I REALLY want to pot them but I'm afraid of killing them. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on how to accomplish a transplant safely?? 🙏
I have a pitcher with Philodendron propogations that have been living in water for a year. I originally was just babysitting the props for my mom while she was out of state for a month last June but then I just never gave them back 😳😅 I've wanted to move them into a hanging basket for a long time but my boyfriend says it's really hard to switch from water to soil, especially after so long. I REALLY want to pot them but I'm afraid of killing them. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on how to accomplish a transplant safely?? 🙏
10ft to light, indirect
6” pot without drainage
Last watered 3 days ago
7
Best Answer
when you move them to soil, use your same chunky soil mix (chunky soil mix, a chunky soil mix🕺💃🪩) with 50% tropical potting soil, 25% perlite, and 25% orchid bark, but since it was living in water, you want a slightly more moisture retentive mix, since the roots are used to 100% water. so instead use around 60% tropical potting mix, 20% perlite, and 20% orchid bark. and instead of watering when the whole thing is dry, water when about 25% is dry, since again, the roots are used to 100% water, so they’re gonna be sensitive if they dry out all the way
They have been living in this window between my kitchen and living room with that VERY bright hanging light. I turn it on first thing when I get up in the morning and turn it back off every night before I go to bed (it took me way too long, but I finally figured out about 6 or 7 years ago that plants have the same circadian rhythm that we do and also need a dark cycle 🤦🏻♀️😂). They have done very well there and have crazy roots going on inside the pitchers.
I don’t think you’ll have any trouble moving them to soil. I’d suggest choosing a pot that comfortably holds the roots with just a little room to spare (and with drainage of course). I like to use clear nursery pots set inside cache pots (so I can peek at the roots from time to time 🫣).
Hold the plant in the pot and add your soil a little at a time, gently tapping the pot on the table as you go (to make sure the soil is getting into all the roots).
You’ll want to use a soil that drains decently well. I like to water just a little at first and work up to regularly watering amount over a couple weeks. I feel like I’ve had less transplant shock that way. 🌱
If the worse case were to happen and your plant goes into shock (which I wouldn’t expect), you can snip off the healthy ends while they still have some life in them, put them back in water, and pot up when the roots are at least 2” long or so.
Please keep us posted! 🪴💚
Hold the plant in the pot and add your soil a little at a time, gently tapping the pot on the table as you go (to make sure the soil is getting into all the roots).
You’ll want to use a soil that drains decently well. I like to water just a little at first and work up to regularly watering amount over a couple weeks. I feel like I’ve had less transplant shock that way. 🌱
If the worse case were to happen and your plant goes into shock (which I wouldn’t expect), you can snip off the healthy ends while they still have some life in them, put them back in water, and pot up when the roots are at least 2” long or so.
Please keep us posted! 🪴💚
Philodendrons are one of the easiest plants to switch because they are so resilient. Debbie @debbiedo has said beautifully how to do it. (As well as Debbie, a wealth of great plant knowledge.) Just get a chunky plant mix and make sure to give it a decent pot. Avoid glazed pots if possible (personally, I use clear plastic pots on my philodendrons so I can watch the roots). I plant mine after soaking them, sometimes for even a week of soaking, and then change them into a good medium. Then I let them sit a day or two and then water them; just because their roots are already holding so much water. Do you know what kind of philodendron it is? Do you know if it’s a climber or not?
@Idplantthat They are all Brasil. As far as I can tell they are trailing rather than climbing. But I honestly know nothing about them 😳😳🤷🏻♀️
@pricklydude Are there any particular brands that you would recommend for the soil and orchid bark? My boyfriend has enough perlite to last us a decade 😂 But I need to buy the soil and the bark. 🤔🤔