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Original poster

Re-potting indoor plants (not potting up)

10 replies

wednesdaynamesep · 27/04/2023 19:13

I want to keep my many indoor plants in the same size container, but quite a few have become root-bound. Can anyone with experience please talk me through root pruning. I'm very nervous that I might kill my plants.

OP posts:
Billybagpuss · 27/04/2023 19:20

Which plants specifically, most are pretty robust and you can just hack a bit off and refresh the compost but would help to know if you have something more tender.

florentina1 · 27/04/2023 20:18

i have done this with my plants. I take them out of the pot and soak them long enough so that the roots are plump. Then cut away the smaller roots first. Then keep going until the plant is the right size. The thing is not to be too dramatic. Tease out the remaining roots and fill with fresh compost.j

Original poster
wednesdaynamesep · 28/04/2023 20:15

Billybagpuss · 27/04/2023 19:20

Which plants specifically, most are pretty robust and you can just hack a bit off and refresh the compost but would help to know if you have something more tender.

I have quite a few, but I'm not brilliant with names: peace lilies, spider plants, delicious monster, peperomias, stag horn fern, a big strappy fern thing, pothos as a start.

OP posts:
Original poster
wednesdaynamesep · 28/04/2023 20:23

florentina1 · 27/04/2023 20:18

i have done this with my plants. I take them out of the pot and soak them long enough so that the roots are plump. Then cut away the smaller roots first. Then keep going until the plant is the right size. The thing is not to be too dramatic. Tease out the remaining roots and fill with fresh compost.j

Many thanks. That's very helpful. Do you rinse all the soil off the roots before trimming them? And approx how much of the roots can you trim away? 1/4 or a third? More?

OP posts:
user567543 · 28/04/2023 20:26

Following with interest

Reugny · 28/04/2023 20:36

peace lilies - I tend to divide up and make more plants when sorting out the roots. I then give some of them away when they start growing. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/peace-lily/peace-lily-plant-division.htm

Spider plants - I've just left and replant their babies giving away some of the babies. That reminds me the mother plants still haven't died after 6 years...

I don't have your other house plants.

florentina1 · 29/04/2023 08:40

No need to get the soil off the roots. You just soak them so that the plant is fully hydrated. Take enough root off so that it can go back into the existing pot with room for a bit of growth. House plants like to be compact, too much soil around the roots opens up a chance for disease.

Be cautious with the fleshy roots but the fibrous roots can be a bit more trimmed.

If possible take some of the top growth away as well, as this is dependent on the roots.

Original poster
wednesdaynamesep · 29/04/2023 09:52

florentina1 · 29/04/2023 08:40

No need to get the soil off the roots. You just soak them so that the plant is fully hydrated. Take enough root off so that it can go back into the existing pot with room for a bit of growth. House plants like to be compact, too much soil around the roots opens up a chance for disease.

Be cautious with the fleshy roots but the fibrous roots can be a bit more trimmed.

If possible take some of the top growth away as well, as this is dependent on the roots.

Be cautious with the fleshy roots but the fibrous roots can be a bit more trimmed.

This is my worry. My spider plants even have fleshy roots coming through the holes in the pot. All my plants are in plastic pots inside decorative ceramic pots, and they all 'fit' into their locations. Which is why I don't want to increase the pot sizes.

Would it be ok - when I tackle this - for me to post here a photo of the pot and roots for your thoughts?

OP posts:
CatOnTheChair · 29/04/2023 10:29

Spider plants are indestructible!
Although I'd just plant a baby and bin the mother actually I'd bin them all as I hate them, but I can't get shot if the work ones

I've just "upgraded" several of my plants, so a new container for the biggest, then shifted everything up one pot. That, of course, left my smallest pot empty, so I had to go shopping....

florentina1 · 29/04/2023 14:38

I think posting pictures is a good idea

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