Garden Spot
By Pat Dray
Pat Dray.
As hard as it may be to believe, spring is right around the corner and it’s time to prepare your houseplants for a new season of growth. Now that the days are getting longer (and hopefully warmer) your houseplants will start to stretch their stems and prepare for new growth.
One of the first things you should do is to evaluate whether to repot or “pot up.” Repotting means that you are leaving the plant in the same pot, where potting up means that you are putting it in a pot that is one size larger.
The process is similar for both repotting and potting up: start by watering the plant well the day before so that it will be easy to remove from the pot, and then slowly pull the plant from the pot. Gently shake the plant to remove the soil from the roots and take a good look at them. If any of the roots are black or dead, clip them off with your gardening clippers. If the plant is rootbound, you have the choice of repotting or potting up. If you choose to repot, you can remove up to two thirds of the root, starting at the bottom and sides. Be sure clean the pot well and sterilize it with a drop or two of bleach in a quart of water. You can then put the newly pruned roots back in the pot, and gently fill it in with fresh potting soil.
If you choose to pot up, you should choose a pot that is no more than one to two inches in diameter larger than the current pot. As with repotting, remove any roots that don’t look healthy, place the plant in the new pot, and carefully fill it with soil, lightly pressing to remove any air pockets.
Repotted or potted up plants may look wilted for a week or so because they are in shock. Don’t panic and water them – remember, you just gave them a very thorough watering. Move them to a slightly shadier location until they recover.
After you’ve repotted or potted up, wait a few weeks and then give your plant something to eat. This is the time to start regular feeding to encourage the new growth. I like to use a liquid, organic plant food since it dissolves better in the water than the powdered type. Make sure you follow the directions carefully so that you don’t overfeed and burn the plant. You should also clean the leaves thoroughly by supporting the leaf with one hand and wiping with a damp cloth with the other. This is also when you should double check for any freeloading insects that have found a winter home. If you see any, treat them appropriately.
It’s also a good time to be a bit strict and decide if some of your plants are past their peak. Most houseplants are from tropical locations and don’t tend to do well in our warm, dry New England winter homes. Trim off any brown, yellow or drooping leaves and reshape the plant into the desired shape. If it still looks overly sad, it may be time to return it to nature via the compost pile.