When is it time to repot your plants?
Generally the root system of the plant is the same volume as the portion of plant which appears above the ground. The root system serves not only as a source of water and nourishment for the plant, but also as a support system keeping the plant from tipping or collapsing in wind or rain. This sage plant is ready for a new pot.
The pot is half the size of the plant above the surface so the roots need more room. If I don't repot this plant, it will not be able to grow any larger. If the roots don't have enough room to expand it may eventually kill the plant. As a double-check dig around in the top of the soil. The roots on this sage plant have grown so closely together that there is almost no soil left in the pot. This is referred to as pot-bound. Often when a plant is pot-bound the roots have grown through the drainage holes in or through the pot itself. Plastic pots may need to be cut away. I have repotted this sage into a roomy 8" pot, which will give the roots room to expand.
posted by Jennifer Tonisson | 6:14 PM
2 Comments:
hmmm....I've been wondering about this. I just transplanted a bell pepper plant that was root bound, and thought it would catch up in a couple weeks. It's been about 3 weeks since the transplant and it has hardly grown an inch, despite thoughtful fertilization and care. How long does it take for a plant to recover if it's root bound and the transplant is late?
Miss Christy. Thank you for your comment. In their natural environment plants don't experience a lot of dramatic changes. Too many changes in lighting, temperature or soil can cause a healthy plant to go into temporary shock. Repotting is a big change to a plant. You are changing their soil, their surroundings and watering pattern. While it seems kind to fertilize during this change, it is actually recommended to hold off on fertilization until your plant begins to show signs of growth indicating that it has adjusted to the new pot. Make sure your pot is draining properly and hold off on any additional fertilization or changes. Your plant is likely experiencing temporary shock and should rebound in a few weeks. Here is a helpful video about repotting pot bound plants. http://video.about.com/gardening/Revive-a-Pot-Bound-Plant.htm
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