A milestone for your plant, pairing a plant with a new container is one of the most enjoyable aspects of owning plants. a chance for roots and leaves to expand and get healthier! Here is Tula’s instruction manual for safely and expertly relocating a tropical beauty to its new residence.
Four suggestions to make repotting easier before you begin:
- Do I really believe this is what the plant needs? Visit this page for a detailed explanation of how to determine whether a plant is ready for a larger pot.
- Pick the appropriate pot. The ideal pot size for repotting is one size larger than the pot the plant is currently in. The ideal depth and width on either side are typically about an inch deeper. Of course, you should always choose containers with drainage.
- Allow the plant to somewhat dry out. Dry soil will make repotting a plant considerably simpler and less likely to cause root damage by making it much easier to remove from the old pot.
- clear the area. Set out some newspaper or paper bags, then gather your supplies: the plant, the new container, and fresh soil that is the same type as the plant’s present soil mix. An all-purpose potting soil works well for the majority of tropical plants.
Now, repotting in stages. Watch the video above from Tula founder Christan Summers for a visual tutorial.
- Put a thin layer of dirt in the pot’s bottom. This will make a nest for the plant to sit in and offer fresh organic material for new roots to grow into.
- By rubbing the sides, turning the plant over the new pot, and letting it slip out of the plastic pot, you may remove the plant from the old one. The plant’s roots and stalk can be damaged if you pull on it too hard. Use a chopstick or butter knife to pry the soil off the inner wall of the pot when repotting a plant that is in clay or another solid container. Set aside the old pot.
- Holding the plant above the destination pot, massage the rootball. To gently shake soil from the roots, loosen them, and promote new growth in a pattern that differs from the mold of the old pot, massage is necessary—not tearing.
- Put the plant on top of the nest you made in the first step. The brim of the container should be parallel to the top of the root ball. Remove the plant and some soil from the nest if it is higher. If the soil is lower, add extra. As a result, the plant should be sitting level on a bed of soil with some room between it and the inner pot wall. If necessary, take a step back and check to see if the plant is standing straight.
- Fresh dirt should be placed in the empty space. With one hand, keep the plant firmly in place and erect while using the other to add soil. When doing this, keep an eye on the plant to ensure that it stays in the middle of the pot. Fill up any air spaces in the soil by evenly packing it around the plant. The soil should have sufficient structure to support the plant but not be too porous to restrict the plant’s access to air or water. It must be airy and light.
- To level the dirt and make it shake, tap the pot’s side.
- Use an old paintbrush or a paper towel that’s been gently moistened to clean the pot.
Which kind of soil is ideal for tropical plants?
Tropical plants come in many different varieties, but they all tend to favor a loose, acidic, well-drained, fertile soil that is rich in organic matter. Bananas and cannas, two common tropical plants, will grow in any healthy soil, but this combination will promote their best growth.
When must I repot tropical plants?
Repotting is best done in the spring, just before the summer growth spurt. Here are some indicators that it’s time to repot your plant: The pot’s base is exposed by roots. The plant either slows or stops growing.
Does soil specialized for tropical plants exist?
However, it will undoubtedly destroy your pricey exotic plant. Tropical vegetation needs
a unique soil for effective growing. Most of them grow in conditions found in nature.
in a loose, permeable media made of bark and light organic debris, in a rainforest.
You may use any GOOD potting mix you find at your local Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc. in most circumstances.
for an organic medium. This soilless mixture also contains a professional variety.
the mug. Use fertilizer with microelements, is my recommendation. Tropics require a lot
Take note of how much fertilizer we use; this is appropriate for our hot and humid climate.
more so if you wish to encourage blossoming. Apply fertilizer solution by misting foliage.
Of course, you’ll need to bring indoor plants. Being tropicals, they will not endure.
How frequently should a tropical home plant be watered?
Twelve to fourteen hours of light per day are ideal for tropical plants. Tropical plants typically require intense indirect light.
Tropical plants compete with one another for light in their natural habitat.
You’ll quickly notice how the plants appear to grow on top of one another if you’ve ever seen a photograph of a dense rainforest.
This is because no one wants to share because they all need light. Tropical plants require enough of sunlight to thrive, even when housed indoors.
Although never direct, this light should be fairly bright. Despite being huge and quite thick, those leaves are vulnerable to scorching in the improper circumstances.
If given around 12 to 14 hours of light each day, the majority of people will be content.
Remember that not all species will be in favor of this. Certain tropical plants will favor being placed in a window with less light.
WATERING
Once the top two inches of soil have dried up, water tropical plants once a week to keep the soil moist but never soggy. Drainage of water is necessary.
Tropical plants typically thrive with more water than not enough, contrary to the normal rule.
This could be a precarious slope. Yes, they do prefer that the soil remain consistently moist.
Negative effects like root rot or leaf wilting may occur from this.
Once a week is usually plenty to prevent your plant from drying out.
You’ll want to water using a certain technique. Water is delivered to all areas of the soil via watering cans, which also moistens the leaves.
The “top-water approach” is what is used for this. You should be sure to include drainage holes on the underside of the container or pot, just like you would with the majority of plants. No water should ever be allowed to sit on your tropical plant. Root rot can damage the root ball.
TEMPERATURE
The ideal temperature for tropical plants is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 24 degrees Celsius).
If there is a particularly sharp change in temperature, the majority of owners who leave their plants outside will need to bring them in at night.
When these plants are exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, harm begins to occur (10 degrees Celsius). Being locked inside has its benefits.
People from tropical and subtropical regions typically fare better when living at home.
The recommended temperature range for a home is between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius (65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit).
Some animals can survive in temperatures that are higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).
The lesson learned in terms of temperature requirements is to maintain a comfortable level of heat in your home and avoid opening any windows that might let in a draft.
As advised by Maryland University, you can also keep tropical plants outside throughout the summer and then bring them inside to overwinter.
Tropical plants can remain outdoors from late spring to early fall until the end of the growth season, which is when the nighttime temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees celsius).
HUMIDITY
Most plants don’t really care about humidity, especially those that are kept in the right environment.
This additional moisture is essential for tropical species to maintain vivid leaves and blooms.
For a tropical indoor plant, this is regrettably still too low. You should try to get a humidity level of at least 60%.
Anything above 80% is way too high and may result in harmed foliage or roots. But how can you give them these amounts without making your house smell like a sauna?
To give those leaves a little more water than usual without having to water them directly, set up a misting regimen. Particular spaces, including the bathroom and kitchen, may have greater humidity levels.
FERTILIZER
During the spring and summer, fertilize tropical plants every two weeks using a balanced liquid fertilizer.
A high-quality fertilizer is probably something you should spend money on if you want to own a decadent tropical plant.
The bright blossoms you see in plants like hibiscus are very taxing on the human body.
During the spring and summer, balanced fertilizers should be applied every two weeks.
To add any additional supplements, you should hold off until either the early spring or late summer.
PROPAGATION
Most tropical plants can be multiplied by taking stem cuttings and re-rooting them in water.
Stem cuttings are typically the easiest procedure and don’t need as much supervision.
While roots in water can be a little challenging, seed germination takes much longer.
Later on in the text, we’ll go through the steps involved in stem cutting propagation.
GROWTH
Epiphytic plants are referred to as tropical plants. This indicates that they rely on a different flora member for assistance.
When compared to a tropical rainforest, the surroundings are completely covered in greenery.
They also require the water that runs off the host plant since it drops down on them.
It is good to stretch out and shoot upward in light of this. What about your houseplant, though? Will it engulf your room’s corner? No, not always.
There are species that grow to a maximum height of just a foot or two. A species that grows to a height of seven feet is likewise conceivable.
Finding the ideal tropical plant for your home’s size is one of their many appealing qualities. K
Keep in mind that the typical tropical flora has a lifespan of two to five years.
POTTING
Tropical plants are known for having fairly deep roots that soon spread out with tiny branches.
They will become crowded in a container that is too tiny, which will cause a variety of other issues. The right time to move your tropical plant to a new pot exists.
This typically occurs in the springtime. It could be stressful to move your plant from one pot to another.
You give the person enough recovery time by doing it in the spring. Compress the soil as deeply as you can after adding it to your new pot.
Any potential air pockets will be eliminated and reduced as a result. As soon as you place it in its new location, water!
Can I grow tropical plants in potting soil?
For tropical plants to thrive, especially in containers where water cannot flow as freely as it can in loose, rich, jungle soils, good drainage is crucial. Tropical plants don’t fare well with their roots remaining moist, and quickly lose their health and attractiveness in squishy, poorly draining soil.
Always select planters with adequate drainage holes so that extra water can pass through. Keep them dry if you use attractive containers as caching pots with your planting pot hidden within. Look for a lightweight, commercial potting mix that is designated for containers when planting in containers. You can make a mixture that is perfect for tropical plants by including earthworm castings as additional organic matter.