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Wanting huge houseplants
uruloki_2kwsfDAf_t
Posts: 3
Hello!
I’ve been reading through a lot of discussions about repotting plants and why you shouldn’t size up the pots too much.
I’ve been reading through a lot of discussions about repotting plants and why you shouldn’t size up the pots too much.
It seems that most people are against using a pot that’s too big because the plant will get bigger. I think the assumption is that most people want to keep their houseplants the same size and are only repotting annually for their health.
However, for me that’s not the case. I bought a number of plants very small so I could grow them over time and decide where to stop once they get big enough.
I’ve had them for a year now and they’ve all seen substantial growth but are still in very small pots. Actually had to repot a few of them already to separate out the growth, but I didn’t size up the pots yet.
Most of the advice recommends only going up by about an inch each time but I’m very impatient. I just want to know if I can push the size a bit further than is generally recommend without harming my plants, as I’m hoping they’ll eventually get bigger anyway. If they expend their energy into root growth for the next year and don’t show much for it up top to start with I’m Ok with that as long as they eventually start growing once the roots fill out the larger pot. Is that what will happen?
I’m very new to growing plants I’m afraid. I’ve always bought them already big previously so this is an area I am confused about and can’t seem to find someone explaining if it’s OK if your aim in the long term is the growth of your plant.
Also I know that the soil can get damper in larger pots so I’m going to try to combat this by adding rocks.
However, for me that’s not the case. I bought a number of plants very small so I could grow them over time and decide where to stop once they get big enough.
I’ve had them for a year now and they’ve all seen substantial growth but are still in very small pots. Actually had to repot a few of them already to separate out the growth, but I didn’t size up the pots yet.
Most of the advice recommends only going up by about an inch each time but I’m very impatient. I just want to know if I can push the size a bit further than is generally recommend without harming my plants, as I’m hoping they’ll eventually get bigger anyway. If they expend their energy into root growth for the next year and don’t show much for it up top to start with I’m Ok with that as long as they eventually start growing once the roots fill out the larger pot. Is that what will happen?
I’m very new to growing plants I’m afraid. I’ve always bought them already big previously so this is an area I am confused about and can’t seem to find someone explaining if it’s OK if your aim in the long term is the growth of your plant.
Also I know that the soil can get damper in larger pots so I’m going to try to combat this by adding rocks.
The kind of plants I have are:
Garden croton
zanzibar gem
Heart leaf philodendron
Corn plant
Heart of jesus
Dumbcane
cat palm
Snake plant
golden pothos
Kris-plant
Dwarf umbrella tree
Peace lily
Corn plant
Garden croton
zanzibar gem
Heart leaf philodendron
Corn plant
Heart of jesus
Dumbcane
cat palm
Snake plant
golden pothos
Kris-plant
Dwarf umbrella tree
Peace lily
Corn plant
0
Posts
The best way is to look at the roots - if they quickly fill a pot after repotting, go a couple of sizes larger next time.
If it takes a while for the plant to fill a bigger pot, then next time use a pot that's just a bit larger.
I think Monty explained it well a while ago - when you take the plant out of the pot, if you can see more roots than compost, then it needs repotting.
I've used seaweed extract on my foliage houseplants for the last few years - about 1/2 the suggested strength and they are all doing very well. I always use rainwater too.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Also I didn’t know about seaweed extract so I’m going to give that a go after repotting!
Some of the others will be just fine in a pot several steps larger than their current pot. I root cuttings off pathos and philodendron in water and then pot them directly into the pot they will spend the next several years in.