As potted plants grow full and leafy, their roots are also expanding. These roots tend to break down the soil in the pot, as they expand. Roots then displace the soil and break down the soil nutrients to absorb them. The second problem is that the roots will go looking for more room to expand and will start to wind themselves around in circles, girdling themselves in the process. This is what is meant by the term “pot bound”. Plant roots should grow down and outward from the bottom of the plant, not wrap themselves in a circle. Sooner or later every healthy, growing houseplant is going to out grow its pot, and to avoid the plant becoming pot bound, there are several signs to watch for to keep your plants healthy. When a plant gets too large for its pot and the roots circle around inside the pot, the plant’s growth becomes restricted. If your plants seem to dry out more quickly than they used to, but are otherwise healthy, they are probably pot bound. There are simply too many roots in the pot and not enough soil is left to hold and distribute water. Other indicators of a pot-bound plant include roots growing out of the pot’s bottom drainage hole, as well as water that pools on the soil’s surface. Roots that encircle the pot prevent the absorption of water. Leaf drop, failure to thrive, and lack of new growth are also indicators that it’s time to repot your plant.
How to Re-pot a Houseplant
Fortunately, this is an easy problem to fix. Re-pot your houseplant into a pot two inches larger in diameter than the original pot. This will give your plant’s roots room to stretch out. Replace the old soil with fresh, nutrient-rich potting mix appropriate for the plant. Succulents prefer a different soil than pothos, for instance. Only increase the size of the container by a size or two larger. It may seem counter-intuitive, but going too much larger will cause a different set of problems. Too much excess soil will allow water to collect, rather than drain and that can result in the roots sitting in damp conditions, which may cause the roots to begin to rot.
What if You Don’t Have Room for a Larger Container?
Sometimes you don’t have room for a container and the resulting larger plant. If that’s the case, you can maintain the plant’s size by pruning back the top and the roots by about a third. Then you can re-pot, with some fresh potting mix, in the same pot. This will stress the plant in the short term, but it should recover quickly. Be sure to keep it well watered and out of direct light, until you see new growth. That’s a sign that it has adjusted and all is well.
Add Slow Release Fertilizer
While you are freshening the soil with some new potting mix, this is also a good time to add slow release fertilizer. Because houseplants are grown in potting mix, they are not getting any nutrition from the soil. Houseplants need to be fed every 2 to 4 weeks, during the growing season. Adding slow release fertilizer will make sure your newly replanted houseplant will get the burst of nutrition is needs as it acclimates to its new pot.
