Transplanting And Fertilizing House Plants
Transplanting
To keep houseplants looking their best, we recommended to clean up dead leaves and transplant them into a bigger pot during the spring.
When transplanting, a good rule of thumb is to pick a pot one size larger than the pot the plant is in, making sure that it has suitable drainage holes to allow water to drain out quickly.
3" to 4"
4" to 6"
6" to 8"
8" to 10"
10" to 14"
Etc...
With most houseplants, you can use a well-draining potting soil such as our Wilson's Potting Mix.
African Violets, Orchids, & Cactus require different growing mediums. We recommend the Espoma Organic line of potting mixes geared towards their needs.
Check for root rot on the roots of your plants while transplanting. Root rot is a fungus caused by overwatering and lack of drainage. The roots will be brown and mushy and not healthy looking. Unfortunately, there is no real cure for root rot. There are home remedies, but we do not recommend them.
When taking your plant out of it's pot for transplanting, you may notice that the roots wind around the pot. Loosen the roots so that they will expand out instead of continuing in their circle.
Make sure the same soil level is maintained.
After you have planted your plant in its new home, water it in, allowing the water to drain out of the bottom before placing it in a saucer. For a sun-loving plant, leave in a shady part of your home for a week before putting it back where it belongs.
Fertilizing
We recommend fertilizing your house plants once every couple of weeks during the spring and summer. Jacks' Classic Houseplant fertilizer is a general all-purpose houseplant fertilizer that we carry. African Violets, Cactus, Citrus, and Orchids have their specialized fertilizer. Make sure to follow all directions on the package.
Cleaning
Give your plant a good cleaning by removing all dead leaves. It is essential for the plant's health. Dead leaves can cause decay to healthy leaves and give the plant an overall bad appearance.
Dust your leaves with a rag or shower them in the bathtub to remove grime that has built up over the winter. To give your plant a polished look, we recommend using Tri-State Foliage Wonder. It is a no wipe spray that removes water and fertilizer spots off of plants leaves.
After the frost date and when temperatures are above 50 degrees at night, you can move your houseplants outside.
If you are unsure or have a question, please feel free to contact the store about any houseplant questions. Take advantage of our creation station by bringing your plant in, and for a small fee, we can transplant it into a new pot for you leaving the mess here.
