To repot or not?

6 years ago

Im celebrating my 1 year anniversary as a plant mom & some of them I think may need to be repotted. Can anyone help with advice on if they do or don’t need to be repotted, size and type of pot? I have been told you can keep them in plastic planters to exchange in and out of pots/baskets which I’m good with. I would GREATLY appreciate the help.

Thank You

•plant #1 - Donkey Tail succulent

in a, I think, 4in plastic planter container that it came in when I bought from a plant lady in February. Would like to put in a ceramic pot I just bought 3,35" x 5.91" / (8.5 x 15 cm)🤞🏼

• plant #2 - Fiddle Leaf fig

in a 3.75 gallon container it came in from Lowe’s I bought 8 months ago. Proud plant mom turned brown leaves green and went from hard tilt to straight up!!

•Plant #3 - Money Tree

in the 1.95 gallon planter container I bought it in from Lowe’s 11 months ago. Has REALLY grown.

• Plant #4 Swiss Monstera

My very first plant, have had for 1 year now. New leaves uncurling all the time. Just repotted in a 6in plastic pot lives in a basket

•Plant #4 Yucca ...?

was just gifted this plant so I’m not sure the size of the pot. Feels like other clay pots I have, I don’t feel any rocks in the small drainage hole so I’m weary it will get root rot in here.

Featured Answer

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

6 years ago

Rule of thumb: at the approximate point in time when the root/soil mass first becomes congested to the the degree the root/soil mass can lifted from the pot intact, you can expect that root congestion will be taking a toll on vitality, growth rate, yields (for crops), and eye appeal. If the plant has been potted up instead of fully repotting (includes root pruning, bare-rooting, and a change of soil), even if there might seem to be plenty of soil remaining for roots to colonize, the limitation of congestion in the pre-potting up root mass might very well be severe. Once the root mass has been allowed to become congested to the degree described, it will remain a limitation until a pair of hands actually gets into the root mass and eliminates the congestion - even if the plant were to be planted out (in the landscape).

From the plant's perspective, pots made from materials that facilitate exchange of soil gases (wood, low-fired clay/ terra cotta, mesh baskets, etc) are sure to be more productive than plastics, glass, or other vitrified materials.

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Comments (6)

Izzy Fellows
Original Author
6 years ago
A little over my head, after I read it several times I should be able to understand it all😆, thank you so much!
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
6 years ago
What it boils down to is, no plant likes or prefers to be rootbound, which induces stress that increases in a direct relationship with the severity of of the root congestion. You asked how to tell if a plant needs repotting. The answer is, it needs repotting before the rootbound condition is advanced enough that the roots and soil stay together when you remove the plant from the pot. The longer it languishes as the root congestion increases, the closer it gets to losing viability (death) and the more difficult it becomes to pull it back from the brink.

Al
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Burro's tail is a trailing plant, so it may be better if potted in hanging type container. Make sue it has drainage hole, and use well draining mix. It looses leaves easily, so some may fall off - just toss them on top of potting mix, and most will grow rots and turn into new plants.
Izzy Fellows
Original Author
6 years ago
Oh that’s awesome I didn’t they’ll grow that way, thank you!!
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Few from net: