This last weekend I re-potted all (expect for the ones that I don't have pots for) of my indoor plants. The lady at Watsons Greenhouse where I bought them told me to wait 30 days before putting them into their new pots so that I wouldn't send them into double shock. Whenever you buy a plant it will go into shock because it is in a totally new environment (temperature, humidity, watering schedule, etc), so you don't want to do something else dramatic to the new arrival until it has acclimated to your house or garden. Transplanting into new pretty pots would cause additional stress to an already stressed out plant.
Well, its been about 30 days (actually more like 50) and now was the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party. I bought some potting mix. I happen to like miracle gro, but the nursery expert said that most of them are the same.
I cut down diapers (we have lots of those) to put into the bottom of the pots. (with the exception of the african violets because they like to drink the water from the roots) I read or heard somewhere that this will do two things: soak up the extra water that goes through the soil, holding it for when the plant needs more and it will keep excess water dripping through the pot and staining any wood the pots are set on.
Then, after deadheading and removing the dead leaves, I added new dirt and moved the plants into their new pots. I tried not to disturb the root system so that they could cozy in and not spend lots of time growing the root system which can lead to the leaves looking less lively.
This one seemed pretty rootbound, so I used a slightly larger pot and loosened up the roots.
And, viola, the task was complete. The plants didn't say much, but I could tell by their silence they were very glad I did it.
