To Repot pothos is a crucial aspect of pothos care, often a topic of great interest and importance among plant enthusiasts.
My aim in writing this article is to delve into the benefits and intricacies of repotting Pothos plants.
By understanding the following guidelines, you’ll be equipped to enhance the health and beauty of your beloved plants;
The best time of year to Repot pothos, understanding when it is necessary to repot pothos and which container is the best.
Choosing a soil that adapts to the needs of the plant and at the same time facilitates its care.
The same method applies to the Scindapsus. Let’s get straight to the point.
Signs That Pothos Need Repotting
How can we determine when to repot our pothos plant, then? A common word among plant lovers is “rootbound,” which is one of the most obvious symptoms.
This rootbound simply means that the roots are crowded and have occupied the container, and when this happens, the root is no longer comfortable with the pot.
A root-bound plant has consumed all the nutrients in the soil, making the pothos plant uncomfortable again.
But there are many others which you don’t know, which I am about to explain now.
The following list contains the clear symptoms that your pothos need to be replanted.
Plants have outgrown their present container when roots begin to peek over the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
Root-bound appearance: A Root-bound is one of the first signs that appears whenever a house plant needs repotting.
If in any way you observe the roots are tightly circling the inside of the pot or have formed a dense mass at the bottom, you should quickly repot it.
Whenever a plant is root-bound, it suffers from nutrient deficiency, which is why some plants, like snake plants, use rooting to achieve flowers.
I will recommend you to 👉click here to read how to make snake plant flower.
Slow growth: If your Pothos has stopped producing new leaves or is growing slowly despite how much care you have put into it, slow growth is one of the signs that your pothos needs to be repotted.
Slow growth will make your photos struggle when growing despite fertilization or adequate care.
In this case, repot is immediate, but it should be done at the right time during the active growing season.
For more clarification on why pothos is having stunted growth 👉, click here.
Watering issues: if you observe your soil drying quickly after watering or if water starts pooling on the surface without being absorbed.
All this noise could indicate that the roots have filled the pot and that there is not enough soil to hold moisture.
For more understanding on how to water a pothos correctly 👉, click here.
Fertilizer effectiveness: if you have administered fertilizer to your lovely pothos plants but it doesn’t seem to respond.
Not all yellow leaves are good for repotting. If the plant starts to turn yellow, it may need to be repotted because of broken-up fertilizer, poor soil, or crowding of the roots.
If you want to know more about why pothos turn yellow 👉, click here.
What Is The Best Time To Repot Pothos?
The best time to repot a pothos plant is early spring or early summer because the Pothos are Most actively growing at this time.
It is important to root your pothos every one to two years to allow the root to spread out in a new pot and fresh soil.
This is the best period to take advantage of the whole summer season to allow the Pothos to grow and colonize the new pot.
The plant is resilient and capable of producing new shoots during the start of spring or early summer, and its roots are more fitted to heal from the stress of repotting.
How To Repot Pothos Step By Step?
The procedure for repotting the Pothos is straightforward and intuitive; follow these simple steps:
Materials Needed:
Hand glove
A fresh pot with bottom drainage openings. (Slightly bigger than the one in use now)
Fresh potting mix (well-draining)
Watering can and water
Pruning shears or knife
Step 1: Prepare the Pothos for reporting
If the soil is too strong and hard to remove, give the pothos some water it can be a day or two before repotting to help loosen the root ball and lessen transplant shock. If desired, prune any long or lanky stems to promote bushier growth.
Step 2: Prepare the New Pot
Choose a new pot that is somewhat larger than your present one (3-4 cm). The bottom of the pot has to have drainage holes, and it may be added to the bottom with a few millimeters of expanded clay (optional).
Fill the bottom of the container with a handful or two of potting soil. Try using soil that has been lightened with coconut fiber or perlite to increase aeration.
Step 3: Remove the Pothos from its Current Pot
Gently tip the Pothos plant out of its current pot by Pressing or tapping on the outer edges of the container or gently squeezing the pot to loosen the root ball.
Doing so will help you flare it without having to pull the shots and risk breaking them.
Step 4: free the root ball
Scrape the earth from the roots carefully with your fingertips. Just remove the sections that are readily removed; there’s no need to remove everything.
If the roots are tightly bound, Detangle the roots a little, especially when they have started to spiral. This will facilitate development once potted into the new pot.
Carefully pull apart the root system with your fingertips to examine it for damage, such as rot.
If necessary, Trim away any dead or damaged roots with clean pruning shears. Doing so will encourage healthy new root growth.
Step 5: Place the Pothos in the New Pot
Positioned the Pothos root system at the center of the pot at the same depth as it was in the previous pot.
Round the plant with potting, mix around the edges to Make sure there are no empty spots left.
Sport the plant by Using your hands to press the soil to fill in the gaps around the pot.
Step 6: Water the Plant
Water the Pothos right after repotting. Allow any extra water to drain from the bottom of the saucepan. This will assist in settling the soil and minimizing transplant shock.
Step 7: Place the Plant in light Location
Place the Pothos where it will get enough light and temperature conditions.
To avoid stress, do not place it in direct sunshine right after repotting.
Keep an eye on your newly potted pothos to ensure they get enough water and indirect light.
I recommend waiting a few weeks before fertilizing. Do not rush fertilizing your pothos; allow the plant to settle into its new environment.
What Kind Of Soil Do Pothos Like
The type of soil Pothos plants is a soft and well-draining potting mix that retains moisture.
When you repot pothos with this soil, it helps to reduce waterlogged.
Pothos soil should be composed of Peat moss or coconut coir (Optional); standard potting mix, perlite, or other coarse substrate capable of improving drainage is added.
A ready-to-use example is the biobizz [aff pro] preferred potting soil or a ready-made potting soil for orchids. It is composed of peat and bark for epiphytic plants.
A general ratio for mixing soil for Pothos could be:
- 2 parts standard potting mix
- 1 part perlite or coarse sand
- Optional: a small amount of peat moss or coconut coir
Before using the soil to pot your pothos, properly mix all of the above ingredients.
Remember to select a pot with bottom drainage holes to further ensure proper drainage and prevent waterlogging.
Let it be clear: Pothos can also grow in universal soil, but in this case, good watering practices are important to prevent the water from stagnating for too long.
Using a more airy substrate, even if a little more expensive than the universal one, simplifies care and improves the plant’s growing conditions.
It is money well spent, which will repay us with satisfaction and more beautiful plants.
Remember, A good soil mix for Pothos should be light, airy, and have good drainage.
Your Pothos should grow healthily and quickly if you choose a soil mix that drains effectively.
If you are interested in knowing how to plant pothos in water click here.
Do Pothos Like Big Or Small Pots?
Pothos prefer slightly small pots; they like snugger spaces rather than having too much room in a pot.
A smaller pot helps control their size and promotes better growth.
Since pothos seems to like being slightly root-bound, give it a pot that is two inches bigger than its root system.
Pothos don’t mind being somewhat root-bound, so just because I say that doesn’t imply you should plant them in an excessively large or small container.
Here’s a quick guide to help you select the appropriate pot size for pothos.
First, we begin with a small pot; when the pothos are young, about select a pot with an inch or two of space around the root ball.
Secondly, we advance to a bigger pot when the pothos has outgrown its current pot; this time, it is called repotting.
We repot our Pothos into a new, larger pot that fits its current root size, but the pot must still leave 2 inches of space around the root ball.
Note: Oversizing a pothos plant with a large pot is meaningless because a smaller pot helps control its size and promotes better, healthier growth.
Even other potted plants, like bonsai, do not like oversized pots. To read about bonsai pots, click here.
What Vase To Use For My Pothos Plant
There is no best pot for a pothos plant. What matters is the pot space and the drainage holes at the bottom.
The type of pot, design, or materials used can not affect the growth of the pothos plant, always allowing excess water to escape from the vase.
You can cultivate pothos in plastic, ceramic, terracotta, or other types of material. However, I often see people using plastic pots because they are easy to carry.
If choosing a pot or planter is a problem, I’ve got you covered click here for the types of pots.
Furthermore, the pothos pot must be slightly larger than the root system, say 3-4 cm more in diameter.
The faster the roots colonize, the sooner explosive growth will occur in the aerial part.
Among the most used containers for pothos, we certainly find plastic vases, which have the following features.
The convenience of being smooth, light, economical and can be easily embellished with a pot cover. Or hanging in case you want to grow drooping Pothos.
Terracotta [aff pro] pots are also suitable for caring for Pothos because they are breathable and allow the soil to dry more quickly than a plastic or ceramic pot.
And as we know, Pothos likes to have a quick dry/wet cycle between waterings.
Ceramic pots are beautiful and easy to clean and reuse, but they must be perforated on the bottom. Otherwise, water will stagnate inside, preventing the air from circulating.
A self-watering pot is a good option for pothos plants manufactured with a reserve of water inside.
It is important to understand when growing in a self-watering pot that the roots will grow more similar.
Self-watering pots are equipped with a probe to understand when the water in the tank is running out.
Can I Repot My Pothos Any Time Of The Year?
No, it is advised not to repot pothos throughout the spring and summer when it is in its active growing season.
But If for any reason you decide to repot your Pothos outside of the spring or early summer, bear it in mind to give your pothos extra Care after repotting.
The extra care needed is to ensure that your pothos receive appropriate light and make sure you avoid direct sunlight immediately after repotting to help reduce stress.
Also, you should give your pothos adequate water to promote successful growth.
To learn how to take care of a pothos plant, click here.
Conclusions
Since you can repot pothos plant it is important to remember when to repot your pothos and recognize when your pothos are telling you that they require a new pot.
The plant will grow stronger and healthier when repotted correctly, which also makes it easier to provide it with the care it needs.
Root pothos enhance growth, and the likelihood of undesirable illnesses like root rot is decreased by using the proper pot size and free-draining soil.
As we know, a Pothos with strong roots is reflected in a vigorous plant, full of leaves and with a vibrant and healthy appearance.
