How to repot and change the soil of household potted flowers? Methods and precautions

Because potted flowers are limited by the growing volume of the container, the soil properties are prone to deteriorate, which causes poor plant growth, yellowing and wilting leaves, and even death. Therefore, it is very necessary to repot and change the soil regularly to replenish and improve their nutritional conditions.

When many young roots protrude from the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, it indicates that the root system in the pot is already crowded and the pot needs to be changed. You can also knock the flower plant out of the pot; if the surface of the soil ball is covered with fine roots in a felt-like state, it indicates that the pot needs to be changed; if there are many branch roots, it indicates that a pot one size larger should be used.

1. Time for repotting:

Perennial and woody flowers should be repotted during the dormant period and between the sprouting of new buds in early spring; those that bloom in early spring should be repotted after flowering.

2. Repotting method:

Do not water 1-2 days before repotting, to help the soil separate from the pot wall. When repotting, knock the plant out of the pot, use a flower trowel to remove 20%-50% of the old soil from the shoulder and around the soil ball, cut off dead roots, rotten roots, disease- and pest-damaged roots, etc., place a small amount of cinder or coarse sand at the bottom of the new pot, put the trimmed soil ball in the center of the pot, and finally fill the pot firmly with new growing soil.

3. Issues to note when repotting:

(1) Most flowers are suitable for sandy loam soil containing relatively rich humus with a pH of 5.5-7.0, neutral to slightly acidic. This kind of soil can be mixed yourself or you can buy special growing soil from a flower shop.

(2) The drainage hole at the bottom of the pot must not be blocked completely. You can cover the drainage hole with double-layer window screen or use two broken tiles to form an inverted V shape, so that it covers without blocking and shields without sealing, which is good for drainage and air permeability.

(3) The planting depth of the repotted plant should preferably maintain the root crown at the original soil burial level.

(4) Except for fleshy-rooted flowers and cactus-type flowers, most flowers should be watered thoroughly once after repotting, placed in semi-shade and watered sparingly, and only after new roots grow can they be watered normally and gradually moved to a sunny place.

(5) Fertilization should be combined with repotting; a layer of decomposed cake fertilizer or other organic fertilizer can be placed at the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer.