Indoor plant arrangements provide eye-catching appeal to your home—and, to allow the plants to grow and thrive, it’s crucial to place them in the right pots and then repot when needed. Here are tips from the experts at Decker’s Nursery.
Using the Right Pottery Sizes
For healthy plants, it’s vital to select the right pottery for your indoor plants. When the pot is too small, the soil will dry too quickly and there often isn’t enough room for roots to grow. Too large? They can hold excess water, which means that soil will remain moist too long, which can lead to the growth of mold. Plus, some plants do best when they’re root bound, which isn’t possible in a too-large pot.
To make sure you have the right size of pots, diameter-wise, consider the anticipated root size and growth rate. If you need help with this, contact us online or by calling (631) 261-1148, and we’ll be happy to help you choose the right size of indoor pottery.
Preparing to Pot Your Plants
Ensure that you have the right potting mix for your plants. Healthy soil is a must when you want to grow healthy plants. The right mix will allow the plants to consume necessary nutrients and optimally absorb water. Many times, an all-purpose potting soil or potting mix will work well for your container plants; an example is Espoma Organic Potting Mix for All Potted Plants.
An organic product, like the one above, doesn’t contain chemicals. Ingredients can include manures, composts, and other natural matters. Products not labeled as organic can include processed materials that could help with aeration and drainage.
You can also select a flower-specific potting mix. An example is the Espoma Organic African Violet Premium Potting Mix.
Potting Your Plants
Place a ceramic shard over the drainage hole in your indoor pottery before pouring in the potting mix. This way, the mix won’t leak out. To use the right amount, fill to the depth where you can position the root mass of your plant an inch or two below the pot’s rim.
Check the roots of your plant. If any are brown, trim them carefully. Then make half-inch horizontal cuts down the root ball, using clean, sharp scissors, every few inches. Place your plant in its new pot, nudge soil around the roots, and then gently tamp it down. This will help to eliminate any air pockets.
Each plant will have unique watering needs. Follow the instructions provided or ask our experts. Remember that the goal is to water the soil, not the leaves of the plant. Evenly water the soil in the pot without overwatering.
Repotting Your Plants
Sometimes, repotting simply means that your plants require fresh potting soil before replacing them in the same pots. Other times, you’ll need to transfer them to a larger pot to allow them the opportunity for continued growth and good health.
When this happens, it’s important to ensure that you’re choosing the right size of indoor pottery. If the original container is ten inches or less in diameter, you’ll typically need a new pot that’s an inch or two bigger in diameter. If the original pot was already more than ten inches in diameter, you’ll likely need to go up two to three inches.
Then, follow the same general procedure that you did when initially potting your plants. You can then thoroughly wash your original pots and reuse them.
Knowing When to Repot
Plenty of signs exist to let you know that your plant needs to be repotted. If you notice roots coming out of the drainage hole, that’s definitely a sign. Or, if the plant is now double the height of the pot, it may be growing to a size that’s beyond the capacity of the pot. Other times, the plant might stop growing or have leaves drop while others are still budding.
Although the first sign (roots coming out of the drainage hole) means that the pot is now too small, the other signs may have other causes. Stunted growth, for example, could be a sign of disease or pest presence—which indicates a need for attention. So, remove the plant from the pot, check the health of its roots, and then proceed accordingly.
Choosing Indoor Plant Pottery
Each time you pot a new plant or repot it to another container, you have another opportunity to add attractive touches to your home décor. You may, for example, select decorative ceramic pots for indoor plants in colors, shapes, and sizes that suit your taste. Or, pots are also available in terra cotta, plastic, fiberglass, wood, metal, and concrete.
According to Better Homes & Gardens, 2022 is the year of “great big plants that make a bold botanical statement.” If that appeals to you, then it will be especially important to make sure your plant has plenty of room to grow. Another trend mentioned is flowering plants with eye-catching color. Watching your plant as it flowers, one expert says, is a joyful experience for a “plant parent.” Colorful leaves are also trending, including ones with interesting textures. (We’re here to help you with pairing up gorgeous plants that aren’t shy with just the right pot aesthetics. Just let us know!)
Decker’s Nursery for Your Indoor Pottery
We have pottery for your indoor plants in a wide range of sizes, colors, shapes, and materials—ones that are just right for you. Our experts love to help customers choose the right plants and pots, offering guidance when needed so that you can find exactly what you need. Then, we can answer whatever questions you have about potting, repotting, and otherwise caring for your plants.
Please stop by our plant nursery and garden center any time during our business hours. Or, contact us online today or call us at 631-261-1148.