Repotting - Prune Roots Instead

Very often new houseplant buyers rush home with their new purchase and repot the plant right away. I think they believe repotting will make the plant grow.

The other side of the houseplant repotting frenzy is the “annual” right for repotting plants in the spring. If your houseplant is doing well but it keeps drying out between waterings consider doing some pruning - on the whole plant - bottom to top.

You taken the time to find just the right decorative container why do you want to search for another?

The type of pruning I’m talking about is called “root pruning.”

Tree growers root prune trees all the time before sending them off to a landscape job. The whole process is pretty simple.

After a plant reaches the optimum size you want or it’s out grown it container, cut back the roots or shave the roots around the outside of the root ball and fill the area removed with your favorite potting soil.

Since some of the root mass was removed the plant now has less roots to support the foliage up top. It’s time to do some selective pruning to reduce the foliage canopy.

Remove all stems and give the plant a good cleaning. The plant may go through some wilting and leaf drop - especially Ficus - but it should bounce back quickly as new roots fill in the soil fresh potting mix.

As for the new houseplant buyer - Wait don’t repot, enjoy your new houseplant and let it become acclimated to it’s new surroundings. In a year or two when the repotting itch hits - go for it and repot.

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