What kind of pots are your houseplants in and am I doing it right?

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Mine are mostly in 5” diameter plastic pots and are either in another ceramic pot, or just left like that. Plus saucer/bowl/dinner plate.

I am now repotting some of them, if I go from 5 or 6 inches up to 8 inches is that okay? I have some nice ceramic pots to put the plastic one in but some of them will have to stay as they are, in a new 8 inch plastic pot and saucer. Is that okay? Does it matter? They are a bit mismatching at the moment and funds are very short, so I’d rather keep new purchases to a minimum right now. I’d prefer proper terracotta but…🤷‍♀️.

Also, B&Q are selling 8” plastic pots for £1.80, is that a reasonable price? It seems very expensive to me but im very out of touch with these things. I’m more of a ‘be grateful for the pot you’re in and if you can’t manage then you’ll end up under the hedge’ kind of gardener.

i like nice pots, but it’s the plant which matters so whatever works. I’m on holiday at the moment in an air B&b which has an amazing range of houseplants in it - all sorts of pots and containers.

I think the usual recommendation is to not increase pot size too much at one go to prevent too much extra compost sitting around going ‘sour’ -that might be more relevant at this time of year when new growth is likely to be slower perhaps.

Oh I didn’t know that about the compost, and I’ve repotted a few already last week.

So do I have to use all my compost (bought this year) up now, I can’t use it next spring if there’s some left over?

Leftover compost will be fine, well wrapped in a cool dry place.

Where can we buy nice big pots that are reasonably priced - anyone know?

The best time to repot houseplants is at the beginning of the season in which they start active growth, ie spring - wherever you are in the world. In the autumn they are winding down to take a bit of a rest in the winter months, so won't feel the benefit of repotting.

Noooooooo

Don't say that!

Is repotting them now in the autumn because some of them look a bit weird and mouldy because you’ve got compost okay? I mean, I’m not harming them, right?

One I repotted last week is in too small a pot. I need a deeper one.

To be honest, I’m not greenfingered in the slightest.

I don't repot unless I have to I use baby bio feed when I water them. I sit them in a basin of water with the bio, mostly, rather than water from the top.

If they are all root and therefore light in weight then I repot them.

Though repotting them won't do them any harm - I just like to have a smallish pot in relation to the size of the plant.

I have them in plastic pots sitting in other containers, pots or bowls

I’m sure they’ll be fine. Don’t overwater, especially in cooler months - watering them by standing in a bowl is good but don’t leave them sitting in it.

Garden centres often have crates of 'help yourself' plastic pots outside that you can take for free. £1.80 sound a lot.

Are you using proper houseplant compost? I've used it for the first time this year and it really makes a difference.

As we move into the darker months it might be worth moving any plants you have in darker corners to a sunnier window sill.

Size and type of pot required varies depending on the size of the rootball and the type of plant. If you google 'how to care for' plus the plant name there is loads of advice about potting requirements of all of the common (and rare) houseplants.

Although repotting now isn't the very best time for most plants, they will generally tolerate it, so I doubt you have done any harm. (However, if any of them was severely unwell, then they might not have the strength to adjust to the change.)

I mix a bit of perlite into normal compost or a bit of horticultural grit. Also tkmaxx is very good for big pots ( not the plastic inners) our local hardware shop sells them quite cheaply. Also local facebook gardening groups can be a good source.

I have lots of plastic pots of various sizes from all the garden plants I’ve bought over the years - but not enough cache pots especially bigger ones.

Lots of mine are cacti or succulents so live in terracotta pots to avoid them getting waterlogged. But it depends on the plant, really. I don't much like the look of plastic and am trying to limit use of it for eco reasons, but some of mine are in plastic pots with a nicer outer pot.

I've not yet had a plant die from being repotted out of season, but I have never tried it later than about now. Some plants are pickier than others - I wouldn't try it with a calathea as they're such utter divas, ditto orchids.

I wouldn't go up sizes too quickly - you want the plant to be able to use the soil and what you put in it. If the pot is too big then you risk water etc going straight through it without the plant having a chance to find it. But I would judge it by the plant rather than the current pot: if you've got something very pot-bound then you want the roots to have room to spread out.