Repotting From The Same Sized Pot To The Same Sized Pot
1. Remove the bottom rows of leaves until you have 2 to 3 rows of mature and maturing leaves plus the small crow leaves. This is done now so you still have the pot to hold on to.
2. Remove the plant from the pot.
3. After you have removed the plant from the pot, lay it carefully on its side and determine how much of the root ball you are going to prune. If some of the neck is showing you will want to remove that same amount of the root ball plus a little more. Remember you must have enough root ball left to support the amount of plant you have left after you groomed it. If you do not think you do remove another row of leaves. When you think you have a good ratio of plant and roots take a sharp knife and cut off the desired amount of the root ball.
4. The root ball after it has been pruned.
5. Once the bottom portion of the root ball has been pruned start to loosen up the remaining root ball with a skewer or some kind of a pointed object by dragging it down through the root ball. In the picture we are using a paint brush handle.
6. Once you have loosened up the root ball, prepare another clean pot of the same size that the plant was originally in. Place enough soil in the bottom of the pot so that the top of the neck of the plant is approximately 1/4 “ below the top of the pot. Fill with some soil and tap on the work surface to settle in the plant and soil. Add more soil until the soil is at the desired level, approximately 1/4:” below the pot rim.
7. Filling the pot with soil and being careful not to pack the soil down in to the pot. It is best to tap the pot on the work surface to accomplish this.
The finished repotting.
8. Put the newly repotted plant back under the lights and watch it for a few days. If you notice the plant starting to go limp do not panic. This is the sign of shock and that you probably did not get the plant to root ratio right. Put a leaf support ring on the plant to hold the wilted foliage up. If you do not when the plant starts to recover the foliage will stay drooped down the side of the pot and be very ugly. If you do not have a leaf support ring you can make one from a paper or Styrofoam plate. Some people would put this plant inside of a plastic tent until it has recovered but I do not. I put it right back on the shelf. The plant should show signs of recovery or be recovered in approximately two weeks.
How To Mold Pot Your Plants.
