NEST 2022 | Page 63

Repotting Your Plant

Trouble in plant paradise ? Your plant is probably due for a pot change . BY EDELINDA BAPTISTA
Watching your plant thrive and grow out of its first pot is a proud plant parent moment . It also signals that the plant needs to be moved to another pot to continue its growth .
Repotting is the process of giving your plant new soil – and usually a slightly larger pot – so its roots and shoots can get the right amount of water , air and nutrients . We spoke with Russell Stafford , owner of Homegrown Nursery in Pawtucket , about how and when to properly repot a plant .
Plants need space for their roots to grow so its foliage can expand into its boastful size , but they can ’ t get the proper nutrients they need if the contents in the pot are crowded . “ What ’ s going underground is key to what ’ s going on above the soil . Repotting is providing a more favorable environment for the roots so the rest of the plant can grow and be healthy ,” says Stafford .
If your plant has been in its container for a year or more and it begins to lose vigor , it may need repotting . A good way to check is by taking it out of its current pot to see it ’ s become a large mass of roots around the edge of the soil . Before replacing it in its new pot , “ it helps to rake at the roots with your fingers so they don ’ t stay in that mass , or take some lukewarm water and try to rinse some of the soil off ,” Stafford says . It ’ s
always a good idea to check up on the potting situation every spring .
“ You don ’ t want to put a plant in a container that ’ s way larger than the one it ’ s in . If you put your plant in a pot with too much room , then you have a bunch of soil in there and it ’ ll stay too soggy ,” says Stafford . For example , if you have a three-inch-wide pot , go up to a slightly deeper four-inch pot , and plant at the same depth ; Stafford recommends terracotta pots – which breathe better because of its porous material . Whichever pot you choose , it should have a drainage hole in the bottom to keep the soil from becoming too wet and oxygen-starved .
Using the right soil is essential as well . “ Often with a bargain soil , you get what you pay for . You want a soil that has the right amount of moisture , aeration and fertility to support whatever plant you ’ re growing ” says Stafford , who recommends organic fertilizer for its slow rate of release .
Remember to keep your newly repotted plant away from too much sun for a few days , then move it back to the sun after it ’ s settled into its new home .
Homegrown , 1 Alfred Stone Rd ., Pawtucket , 401-400-3706 , homegrownpvd . com

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