![]() Just find your plants’ rhythm and they will thrive. I even set up reminders on my phone for the finicky plants! Remember, the timing can change between seasons. I keep a note of each time I’ve watered my plants and pretty soon, using my notes and the other methods I’ve described, I can see about how long each plant likes to go between waterings. Feeling the soil and the weight of the pot can help. It takes a little time to see what your plant prefers. Some plants like to dry out almost completely in between waterings (Cacti, Succulents, ZZ plant, Snake plant), some like the top few inches to dry out (Spider plant, Pothos, Philodendron), and some like only the surface to dry out (most Ferns). If a pot still feels really heavy, even if the surface of the soil appears slightly dry, I know it’s generally not yet time to water. As the soil dries out a pot begins to feel lighter. I really like to feel the weight of my pots, as well as feel the soil, to determine when to water. Watering is one of the trickiest aspects of good plant parenting. As it grows roots to fill the soil, it will need watering more often. That’s because it has more soil around it that can absorb water. You might notice that your plant needs watering less often in the first few weeks after transplanting. ![]() ![]() As it comes out, gently grasp around the soil or at the base of the plant to steady it as you slide the pot off. Just keep at it until the soil slides out when you tip the pot on its side. Some plants are pretty firmly attached to their pots and it can take a while to loosen them. Pour water over the top of the soil until it drains out the bottom once a month, just to rinse the soil and remove the excess minerals. I’m also sliding a small shovel (a butter knife would work well, too) in between the edge of the pot and the soil so the plant will slide out more easily. Bottom watering plants keeps the roots uniformly moist, but it doesnt wash away the salt and mineral deposits that accumulate on the top of the soil over time. My Pothos is in a plastic pot so I can gently squeeze the sides of the pot, which helps loosen the soil. Step 1: Gently Remove Your Plant from its Pot To root prune, cut off up to about 1/3 of the roots at the bottom after completing step 1 and then move on to step 2. If you would like to repot your rootbound plant back into the same pot (or one that is the same size) and you don’t want it to grow much larger, you can root prune your plant. In general, it’s best to choose a new pot that is 1”-2” larger than the current pot. If you have a cache pot (a decorative pot without holes) put your plant into a plastic pot and place that pot inside the cache pot. Make sure your new pot has drainage holes. As you can see, my Pothos has been in need of a new, larger pot for quite a while the roots have grown way out of the bottom of the pot! But, since in the winter many houseplants go somewhat dormant and stop growing as actively, it’s best to wait until spring and summer to repot your houseplants.
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