Eventually all houseplants become “potbound.” A little "potboundness" is favorable in that it promotes blooming and keeps plants from growing out of bounds too quickly. Actually, "overpotting" should be avoided, like moving them into an oversized pot for this reason. Nevertheless, too much potboundness causes stunted growth and falling leaves.
Because plants vary immensely in their habits, there is no hard and fast rule that are made for repotting. The pot size is dictated by the growth habit. For instance, slow-growing items like cacti don't need big pots, or even frequent potting. Fast growing plants like begonias demand repotting more often.
Repotting must always be done on a slightly larger pot, for example, from a 4-inch pot to a 6-inch size. While repotting, take out a tiny portion of the old soil and matted roots. This would cause development of new roots. You should likewise replenish the old soil with new mixture.Potting soils must be moist but not wet. Wet soil usually packs too hard. And remember that finely sifted soils are great for seedlings, but not satisfactory for houseplants. Finely prepared soils bake, crack, and usually turn hard.
Sterilizing Used Pots
Plastic pots and clay pots are expensive, and since used ones might have fungi or bacteria on them, discarding those may not be necessary. If you want to be safe against contamination, scrub the pots using
You can also put pots in boiling water for twenty minutes, or washed them in your dishwasher. Plastic pots melt in water over 160 degrees F, so better treat them differently. You can remove fertilizer salts on pots by brushing with a wire brush. Boiling detergent solutions will usually help take out the fertilizer salts sticking on the inside and outside of pots.
Plant Container Choices for Your Indoor Garden
Gardening Tips: Rooting Cuttings Under Lights for Outdoors
Effective Ways to Water And Groom Your Houseplants