Ashley shares a few tips on what tell-tale signs to look for to let you know your plant does indeed need more space:
1. 2. 3.
A good rule of thumb is that if you see the leaves beginning to yellow, your plant needs to be repotted. Check to see if your soil is compacted: Simply stick your finger into the dirt. If you push down and there is no give, your plant needs to be repotted. Water your plant and watch to see if the water sinks into the soil as it should to get to the roots. If the water pools on top of the soil instead of being absorbed, that means there isn’t enough air in the soil for the water to run through and your plant needs a bigger pot.
When Should You Repot Your Household Plants? Although conventional wisdom has long held that plants should be repotted during the spring, Ashley advises that it is best to once again be attentive to your plant and what its condition is telling you. After all, temperatures vary greatly from region to region, and while plants may go dormant during winter in colder climates, in the southeastern or western states where win- ters are known to be fairly mild, your plant may continue to flourish and outgrow its current pot.
When you repot your plants, Ashley recommends making the move a slight one. It is less of a shock to the plant to be moved to a pot that is an inch or so larger than its current pot, rather than moving a plant from a small 4-inch pot to a 10-inch pot. Choose a pot the next size up and allow your plant to grow in familiar conditions. Remember, wellness is all about self-care. Ashley’s advice: “When you’re watering your plants, don’t forget to water yourself and your mind, and that just means practicing those self- care components and giving yourself what you need, just as you care for your plants.”
By Melinda Burris
11
August 2023
Powered by FlippingBook