I keep reading conflicting information about repotting my...
12” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 month ago
12
Best Answer
@HilariousJade17 I get it, everything is a bit scary the very first time ! 😛 Looking at your pics, it definitely needs some minimally invasive "root surgery" before you repot (to keep it from quickly becoming root bound again). But I *promise* it's very easy and won't hurt your plant ☺️ For more of a visual aid, I've marked your pics showing where to make the cuts. To start, you have two options:
Option/pic 1: cut off the bottom 1/3 of the root ball
Option/pic 2: cut an "X" into the bottom of the root ball about 3-4 inches deep
Now, if hacking off 1/3 of the root ball feels too extreme, you can go with option two 😉 You'll also need to cut through some of the longer circular-growing roots elsewhere in the pot (I've marked a few in pic 3). Though it seems like gratuitous violence, all this cutting will help loosen up the root ball so the roots can grow normally once in the new pot. Last thing, be sure to sterilize your cutting tools with isopropyl alcohol before and after to help prevent the spread of fungal disease 🤗
Option/pic 1: cut off the bottom 1/3 of the root ball
Option/pic 2: cut an "X" into the bottom of the root ball about 3-4 inches deep
Now, if hacking off 1/3 of the root ball feels too extreme, you can go with option two 😉 You'll also need to cut through some of the longer circular-growing roots elsewhere in the pot (I've marked a few in pic 3). Though it seems like gratuitous violence, all this cutting will help loosen up the root ball so the roots can grow normally once in the new pot. Last thing, be sure to sterilize your cutting tools with isopropyl alcohol before and after to help prevent the spread of fungal disease 🤗
Ok how root bound is too root bound? I read they like to be root bound and but at a certain point you should repot. When I repot should I break up the soil plant roots? Kind of separating em. Or should I just toss her in a bigger pot with more dirt as is? She’s a Home Depot rescue plant lol so even though she looks great and so on I know she needs a little tlc
What kind of conflicting info have you come across? If she's more roots than soil, sounds like she's ready for a pot upsize. The process is pretty straight forward:
-Make sure the new pot isn't more than 2-3 inches bigger than its current pot.
-Fill new pot 1/2-3/4 full with fresh soil (Pothos aren't too picky about soil, but they prefer a mix that's a bit chunky and very well draining).
-Remove plant from old pot and place on top of soil in the new pot. While securing plant with one hand, fill space around roots with soil up to about an inch below the pot's rim. Gently pat down soil to further secure roots.
-Water thoroughly, then top off with more soil if needed. Allow soil to completely dry out between waterings.
If she has really long vines, you might consider pruning before you repot. You can then propagate the cuttings in water till their roots are 3-4 inches long and add them back into the pot with the mama plant 😊
-Make sure the new pot isn't more than 2-3 inches bigger than its current pot.
-Fill new pot 1/2-3/4 full with fresh soil (Pothos aren't too picky about soil, but they prefer a mix that's a bit chunky and very well draining).
-Remove plant from old pot and place on top of soil in the new pot. While securing plant with one hand, fill space around roots with soil up to about an inch below the pot's rim. Gently pat down soil to further secure roots.
-Water thoroughly, then top off with more soil if needed. Allow soil to completely dry out between waterings.
If she has really long vines, you might consider pruning before you repot. You can then propagate the cuttings in water till their roots are 3-4 inches long and add them back into the pot with the mama plant 😊
@stephonicle ok that’s kinda what I wanted is that straightforward if she’s more roots that soil part I know how to do the rest for the most part she sadly not vining yet very bushy though and now I know I don’t have to break apart her roots
@HilariousJade17 do you have any pics you could share of her roots? If she's severely root bound and roots are growing around and around in circles, you'll need to trim them before repotting. If you don't, they'll keep growing in that circular pattern in the new pot and she'll end up root bound much sooner.
@HilariousJade17 btw, one way to tell if a plant is outgrowing its pot is when you start seeing roots coming out of the drainage holes 😉
@stephonicle I have never cut the roots on any plant before😬I have rinsed dirt off roots and then meticulously separated em so they ended up long and lanky then repotted and I have done as you stated above but cutting the roots scares me one thing I read also said if I wanted long leafy vines to leave it root bound also she only had two or 3 little roots poking out of the bottom of the planter but I removed her anyway to inspect and that’s when I saw all of this
Ok update I repotted into a bigger pot….I cut…well stabbed the bottom center of the plant and painstakingly pulled roots apart and got soil out. I trimmed off a lot of the roots as well, surprisingly no root rot!!! So let’s hope that my juicy lady thrives and I get some good vines in my near future! Thank you for the help everyone!