Plant transplanting is essential to keeping your plants and garden healthy. When your plant is larger than its pot, the plant's roots may be damaged or stuck. Damage to the roots can cause growth retardation or a change in the appearance of the plant. To prevent root damage, you should transfer the plant from its current pot to a larger pot. While important, this removal process can be dangerous and cause stress to the plant. Therefore, you must be careful when making the transfer. Follow this guide to make the move safely.
Step
Step 1. At least a day or two before transplanting the plant, water the plant with a special transplant fertilizer
This time interval ensures the fertilizer can work.
Step 2. Fill the destination pot with potting soil
Prepare enough soil to fill the pot. Leave at least 5 cm of space at the top of the pot.
Step 3. Mix the transplant fertilizer you used in step one with water
For example, if you use 100 ml of fertilizer, mix in 100 ml of water. After that, pour the fertilizer mixture into the soil in the destination pot. Make sure there is no dry soil in the destination pot.
Step 4. Make a hole in the soil in the new pot
Make sure the hole is the same size as the old plant pot.
Step 5. Lift the plant from its original pot
Lift the base of the plant with your bare hands, making sure you cover as much of the topsoil as possible. Turn the pot over, then carefully pull the plant along with the soil. Do this process slowly so as not to damage the roots of the plant.
Step 6. Place the plant in the destination pot carefully so that the roots are not damaged
Use a little extra soil to cover the hole, and make sure that no part of the roots is exposed to the air. Water the pot with a fertilizer solution.
Step 7. Place the pot in a place that is not exposed to sunlight for several days
Wait for the plant to adapt to its new pot, then bring the plant into a sunny area.
Tips
- When transplanting a plant into a new pot, make sure the pot has adequate space for plant growth. Thus, plants can adapt to their new environment more easily, and can grow with minimal stress.
- Careless plant transfers can cause plants to get sick, even die. On the other hand, a well-executed move can even regenerate diseased plants.
- Move the plant at night. This way, plants can adapt and recuperate until sunrise, and don't need to be exposed to sunlight until the next day.
