Repotting dracaena vegetation could be a daunting job. In spite of everything, it’s important to be sure that it’s executed correctly so that you just don’t harm the roots or the crown of the plant. However concern not! With this step-by-step information, repotting your Dracaena can be no downside in any respect.
We’ll go over every little thing from how to decide on the appropriate dimension pot on your plant to how a lot soil and fertilizer it is best to use. Plus, we’ll additionally present tips about learn how to transplant your Dracaena with out disturbing its roots an excessive amount of. So seize your Dracaena and maintain studying!
When To Re-pot Dracaena
A Dracaena plant is pleased in the identical pot for fairly a while, so it may be troublesome to determine when it does must be repotted. Fortunately, there are a number of indicators you possibly can search for to find out if it’s time to repot your Dracaena or not.
Indicators Your Dracaena Wants Repotting
Inform-tale indicators that it’s time to repot your Dracaena (and most different houseplants) embrace:
- Roots showing out of the drainage holes within the backside of the pot
- The plant is top-heavy and toppling over
- The leaves are droopy, and the plant appears reasonably sad even with common, constant watering
- When checking the soil, you discover the roots are starting to get root-bound
In the event you see any of those indicators, or a mixture of them, it’s time to provide your plant a brand new pot to reside in!
Finest Time to Repot
It’s greatest to repot your Dracaena within the spring, earlier than new progress begins. It will give the plant time to regulate to its new pot and soil earlier than it has to start out producing new leaves. You possibly can repot your plant any time of the 12 months for those who discover later within the 12 months that it actually must be repotted, however the plant can be happier if it will get a brand new, larger pot proper earlier than it has to spend a bunch of vitality rising within the spring and summer time.
How To Repot A Dracaena
Even for those who’ve by no means repotted a plant earlier than, it’s really very easy and never one thing it is best to stress an excessive amount of over. First, merely collect some provides, after which observe our step-by-step information under. Earlier than you realize it, your plant can be in its new pot, and also you and your plant can be stress-free.
Tools Required
- Pot or Containers
- Select a container that’s 1-2″ bigger than the one your plant is at present in. It will give the plant loads of room to develop with out giving it an excessive amount of area, which some vegetation don’t like.
- Potting Combine
- Select a high-quality potting combine that has loads of good drainage. It’s really helpful to make use of an indoor soil with a great combination of drainage choices like coco coir, perlite, and high-quality compost.
- Scissors, Knife, or Pruning Shears
- You’ll desire a good, sharp set of pruning shears or scissors if you are repotting your Dracaena. It will turn out to be useful if you find yourself inspecting the roots, as a result of you might have to trim off a little bit of the roots for those who see any rotted materials or discoloration.
- A towel or plastic bag
- This isn’t required for repotting your plant, however it’s useful to catch any soil that falls from the plant in the course of the course of.
After you have gathered all your provides, you might be prepared to start repotting your Dracaena!
Re Potting Dracaena – A Step by Step Information
Step 1: Put together your work station
Earlier than your begin, lay out your towel or plastic bag if you wish to use one, and seize all your gear listed above and your plant. Subsequent, fill the brand new pot with about 1-2″ of the brand new potting soil, letting it settle on the backside of the brand new pot.
Step 2: Gently take away the plant from the container
Together with your hand supporting the stem of the plant, flip the plant over, and gently launch the plant and soil from the pot it’s in. This will take a while, so don’t rush it, and don’t pull the plant out by the stem. At all times attempt to loosen across the roots to get it to come back out, not near the stem.
After the plant is out of the container, clear away all the present soil across the roots, and punctiliously examine the roots for any harm. You’ll wish to gently trim away any broken roots with santized scissors or pruning shears.
Step 3: Place the plant in its new pot
With out crushing the roots, maintain the plant inside the brand new pot, and gently backfill across the roots with the brand new potting soil. Work your approach as much as the highest with the soil, after which pat the soil all the way down to safe the roots and the plant. Give your plant a great watering, and provides your self a pat on the again! You simply repotted your Dracaena!
Re Potting Giant Vegetation
Giant vegetation are much more troublesome to repot than smaller ones, however solely due to their dimension. In case your Dracaena is on the bigger facet, you received’t be capable to tip it the other way up to get the plant out of its present pot, and you might want somebody there that will help you in the course of the repotting course of. Comply with the identical steps as above, working as greatest you possibly can to accommodate the scale of your plant.
Decreasing The Threat of Transplant Shock
While you transplant a Dracaena, there’s at all times the chance of transplant shock. This will occur when the roots are disturbed and the plant doesn’t have time to regulate to its new surroundings. There are some things you are able to do to scale back the chance of transplant shock:
- Deal with the roots fastidiously. Keep away from damaging them as a lot as doable.
- Make sure that the brand new pot just isn’t too huge or too small. The roots ought to have sufficient room to unfold out, however not a lot that they’re cramped.
- Use a lightweight potting combine that drains properly. Dracaenas don’t like to sit down in moist soil.
- Place the plant in a spot with vivid, oblique gentle and good air circulation after repotting.
Caring for Dracaena After Re-potting
After repotting your Dracaena, you possibly can proceed caring for it usually. The one change is that you could be wish to reduce the quantity of fertilizer you utilize the following time you select to make use of it. Comply with this Dracaena care information and your plant will proceed to develop fortunately in its new pot.
Watering
The final rule of thumb is to water when the highest layer of soil has dried out. Nonetheless, there are some things to remember. First, let’s discuss watering frequency. In the event you reside in a drier local weather, you’ll doubtless have to water your Dracaena extra usually than somebody who lives in a extra humid local weather. Secondly, the scale of your pot will even have an effect on how usually it is advisable to water. A bigger pot will maintain extra moisture than a smaller pot, so it should must be watered much less usually.
Now that we’ve coated frequency, let’s discuss how a lot water your Dracaena wants. Once more, this can differ relying on the local weather you reside in and the scale of your pot. However as a common rule of thumb, it is best to water your Dracaena till the water begins draining out of the underside of the pot. Utilizing a moisture meter will provide help to decide when to water your Dracaena, and the way a lot water it doubtless wants.
Place and Mild
While you’re repotting your Dracaena, it’s vital to keep in mind each the place and lightweight in your plant’s new residence. Dracaenas are native to Africa, in order that they take pleasure in vivid, oblique daylight. In the event you can present this on your plant, it should assist it to thrive.
Select a spot on your Dracaena that’s out of the best way of foot site visitors. This plant doesn’t wish to be disturbed, so a spot the place it may be left undisturbed is right. A south or north dealing with window could be an excellent spot for this plant, so long as it’s not too shut!
Temperature and Humidity
Dracaena vegetation wish to be saved between 65 and 85 levels Fahrenheit, however can tolerate decrease or larger temperatures for a brief time period. They’d doubtless like to spend some early summer time mornings exterior for those who’re capable of transfer it, because the recent air could be glorious for it.
Preserve the humidity round 60-70%, and your Dracaena can be very pleased. If your private home is usually extra humid than this, you need to use a fan to maneuver a number of the air within the plant’s neighborhood. Vice versa, if your private home is much less humid than this, you’ll wish to give your Dracaena’s instant environment some further humidity, both with a humidifier, common misting, or perhaps a humidity tray in case your plant is sufficiently small.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing is a vital a part of caring for your Dracaena. It’s best to fertilize each 2-3 months in the course of the rising season with an everyday indoor houseplant fertilizer, and each 4-6 months in the course of the winter. Alternatively, you need to use an Indoor Plant Meals, which provides your plant a smaller, extra manageable dose of vitamins each time you water it. This technique is very really helpful, because it retains vegetation happier and considerably lowers the probability of your plant getting fertilizer burn.
FAQ Repotting Dracaena
How do I repot a Dracaena with root rot?
Repotting a Dracaena with root rot is similar as repotting a wholesome plant. Simply be certain that you examine the roots very fastidiously, eradicating all rotted and mushy roots so your plant can breathe once more. Watch out along with your watering after repotting the plant, as it should take awhile to get well from this, and overwatering could make the issue worse.
Houseplant Sources
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