Wholesale nurseries know that after a few months, the potted plant has to be moved to a different pot. This is done to ensure the plant is in a container that is large enough for its roots and a pot with a fresh supply of nutrients. More often than not, your supplier will inform you on how often you need to repot the houseplant. All in all, things don’t always go smoothly when repotting. The objective of this article is to educate you on how to deal with repot stress.
Transplant shock
The main challenge faced after repotting potted plants is the transplant shock. This condition is associated with plants having wilted leaves and other symptoms. The problem is caused by how you handled the plant when transplanting it. One of the main reasons for the transplant shock is repotting the houseplant at the wrong time. You must never repot your plant when it is blooming. This is mostly during spring.
The transplant shock may also be caused by the use of a different type of soil. Your dracaena needs to be transplanted into a pot that uses the same growing medium as before. The transplant shock may also be experienced if after repotting you place the plant in different lighting conditions or leave its leaves exposed to air for an extended period of time after transplanting.
Treating the repot stress
If you don’t treat the repot stress, you might find your draceana succumbing to the condition. The fact that your plant is experiencing transplant shock means it has already been hurt; it your duty to treat it if you wish for it to survive. Below are some of the things you need to do to treat the shock.
- Ensure there are enough drainage holes in the new pot. The worst mistake you can make is that of drilling more holes while the plant is still potted. The risk of damaging the plant roots will be high and this can cause more problems.
- Place the plant in the same spot as before. The first thing growers will tell you is that changing the location of the plant will stress it. This is because a different location will have different sunlight, air conditions and temperature. Placing the plant in the same position will ensure that it gets the same lighting and temperature conditions as it did before.
- Give it water-soluble fertilizer. Extra nutrients never hurt a plant. You should give it a dose of water-soluble plant food. Interiorscaper suppliers will help you find the right product for this.
- Nip off the dead leaves. After the trauma, the plant’s leaves will tend to dry. You should remove these dead leaves. This will make room for new leaves.
Caring for houseplants is never easy. There is a lot that need to be done. The best way forward is to always liaise with the plantscaper suppliers. Avoid the guesswork. Seek professional advice whenever you need help.