Re-potting
We do not recommend re-potting your plants. Some plants have sensitive root structures and others (ficus) are very temperamental when it comes to re-potting. Leave your plants in the grow pots they came in – choosing a larger decorative container to fit over the top. This also allows for water drainage. Make sure your decorative container is water-tight, or grab a liner from the plant sale. Place some moss over the top to cover up the grow pot!
Watering Basics
Potting soil should be kept moist, but not wet. Of course, there are always exceptions – succulents and other thick-leafed plants do best when the soil dries out between watering. There are several methods to determine when a plant needs water. If the potting soil becomes lighter in color or cracked, it’s probably time to water. Pick up your plant and gauge the weight after watering. After a few practice lifts, you’ll be able to tell if the plant needs water just by picking it up. Of course, you can always stick a finger in the soil to determine how moist it is below the surface. For most plants it’s time to water when the soil is dry to your middle knuckle.
Dehydration
Do NOT let plants get to the point where they are wilting or the soil is pulling away from the edge of the container.
Signs of UNDER watering include:
- Slow leaf growth
- Premature dropping of flowers or leaves
- Brown, yellow or curled leaf edges
Overwatering
Too much water is just at detrimental as too little. Frequent watering forces air from the soil and opens the door for root-killing bacteria and fungus to move in. Over watering is the number one killer of houseplants.
Signs of OVER watering include:
- standing water in the bottom of the container
- young and old leaves falling off at the same time
- leaves with brown rotten patches