Told all the subtleties in the video
one Determine if it’s time for a transplant
As a rule, transplant before flowering, when the roots have grown and the pot has become small. There are several ways to understand that the pot is small, and they are not determined «by eye»:
- The soil dries out very quickly after watering — this means that there are too many roots.
- Growth has stopped — there are not enough nutrients in the soil, the plant has already absorbed them. If there are few roots, you can simply replace the soil and fertilize without changing the pot.
At the same time, you should not wait for a good time of the year if the plant gets sick and begins to wither for no apparent reason. Most likely, the problem lies in the roots. Maybe they got parasites or they got sick. In both cases, you need to remove the flower from the pot, carefully shake off the clods of soil and clean them with water. Remove rotten and diseased parts of the root system, treat with a bactericidal solution that can be found in flower shops. Disinfect the pot or take a new one and use a suitable store soil.
The only situation when it is not worth transplanting is during flowering. If the plant is sick, evaluate how long the flowering period will last and whether it is worth the risk and transplanting immediately.
2 Choosing a pot
The size
Pay attention to the size of the pot. Initially, it is selected according to the size of the flower itself and its root system. If the volume is small, it will not be able to develop roots, and if it is too big, there is a risk of waterlogging. There are plants that you can pick up a pot slightly for growth — for example, palm trees. In other cases, focus on the option 3-4 centimeters wide and deeper than the previous one.
Material
The second important point is the material. Clay pots are considered the best solution because of their porous structure, which allows the roots to breathe and prevents the soil from rotting. The only thing you have to be careful with is that clay products do not keep the temperature, so for heat-loving varieties you will have to look for a warm place in the house.
But in principle, it is better to refuse plastic products: they retain moisture too well, which can lead to rotting of the soil and roots. In the sun, they overheat, from which the flower will also suffer.
3 Choosing the soil
The first and most important point is that you should not take soil from the street or even your own summer cottage. Indoor varieties are not as hardy as outdoor varieties and will easily pick up some kind of disease or parasite. Of course, there are ways to disinfect, such as heating the soil in an oven at a temperature of ninety degrees, freezing or treating it with chemicals, but it is up to you to decide whether it is worth risking a particular plant and those that grow nearby and can catch a disease.
The easiest way is to contact a large flower shop and ask for a primer for a particular flower. It will select the desired level of mineral content, acidity and density of the soil itself. For example, roses, carnations, and petunias love acidic soil, while cacti and succulents need sand mixed with leafy soil and peat. Also in the case of store soil, you can be sure that it is processed and does not pose a threat to plant health.
You also need to purchase drainage — this is a layer of small stones at the bottom of the pot, where water will collect after watering, it is needed in any case. Choose special materials:
- vermiculite;
- agroperlite;
- drainage expanded clay.
They allow moisture to pass through and protect the soil from toxins and salts of heavy metals.
four We transplant
At the beginning of the transplanting procedure, try to tilt the pot and try to gently shake the contents. If nothing happens, the soil should be watered abundantly and left for ten to fifteen minutes. The earth will soften and be easier to remove. Additionally, you can draw a thin wooden stick between the pot and the ground, but be careful not to damage the roots.
Wash the new pot, dry and lay a layer of drainage. Lay some new soil on it, place a flower in the center and gently sprinkle it with earth on the sides. You can tamp a little, especially if the plant is large and heavy, but not very much.
After completing the procedure, let the flower stand for a while and then water, but not too abundantly.
