Fall and winter, when garden chores are slim, is a good time for repotting. At this time of year, plants are generally less active and, with care, can bounce back more easily from transplant shock.
Repotting can help to reinvigorate a plant by the addition of new soil and by root trimming, which can generate many new fine roots that can help the plant take up water and nutrients more easily.To keep your plants happy during the transition, keep the following in mind.
To know when a plant needs repotting,
watch for signs of stress, such as little or no growth, roots climbing out of the pot, falling or yellowing leaves, or fruit drop. I usually repot every second year.
Pots larger than 12 inches in diameter
tend to be weighty; repotting is easier with a helper to lend an extra pair of hands. With help, the plant also will be battered less, so any fruit present will fare better.
Applying a half-strength drench
of fish and kelp to all newly repotted plants helps them bounce back from the trauma of repotting.
Don't overwater
during the cold months or the plants will rot.
A
llowing the soil to dry out
for two or three days before repotting will make the soil in the root ball hold together better.
Spread a tarp
where you work to capture dirt and debris.
When repotting to the same-size pot
(for plants that have attained the desired size), you'll usually need to root-prune. Cut off an inch or two of the plant's outermost roots around its circumference and off the bottom of the root ball to make way for new soil in the pot.
Put enough new potting soil
in the bottom of the pot so that the soil line at the base of the plant's stem sits an inch or two lower than the pot's lip. I use a ruler to measure the height of the root ball so that I don't have to keep moving it in and out of the pot. Then place the root ball in the pot and add new potting soil around its perimeter. Water the pot thoroughly and add more potting soil as needed.
When repotting to a larger pot,
examine the root ball for circling roots that can strangle the plant. Cut them back and remove any damaged or broken roots. Scar the sides of the root ball for a better interface with the new potting soil you add, and to encourage the formation of new roots.
When repotting from pots that are wider
at the middle than at the top, tip the pot onto its side and wash out the soil until you can remove the plant.
-- Vern Nelson
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