Repotting and Housework

By Nancy Ivanov

 How is housework like repotting? It never ends! Repotting is a necessary chore to maintain the health and beauty of our plants. It needs to be done on a regular basis. If we keep putting it off the job gets bigger and bigger just like housework. The key is consistency and keeping it simple and convenient.

 It is important to be organized and to have supplies nearby and easy to access. I make up a large batch of soil a few times a year and keep a small amount in a covered container conveniently located with my tools and pots. That way it is an easy matter to pot up a plant or two as needed when I have a pocket of time. I try to do minis and semiminis every 6 months and standards once a year. I have a little Brother label maker right on the counter and I label each plant with the name and date. The date is entered in my record book along with any notes regarding the plant.

After repotting, the plant goes in a plastic bag and is placed on top of the light stand where it is nice and warm to recover for a month. After that time, the plant comes down and is slowly reintroduced to fertilizer and light. This can take another month. I am very cautious about fertilizer as it can burn the new roots that are forming and result in burnt centers and a ruined plant! A lesson earned the hard way.

Whatever your individual process is, stay organized, neat and consistent. If the chore is a pleasure you will be more inclined to keep up with it just like housework! The reward is beautiful blooms and happy plants!