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Philodendron Care Tips: Choosing the Best Soil and Pot
Philodendron in our oxygen core pot
Is your Philodendron looking a little green around the gills? It may be time for a change of scene, let’s find your Philodendron a new home that meets their needs! Plants don’t like to stagnate in one pot of soil for too long or they begin to feel cramped as they run out of space. In this article, we are going to go over how to repot your Philodendron.
When to Repot a Philodendron
Some Philodendrons can get tall, and some Philodendrons can get viney. Their distinct presence along with their resilience has made them popular for taking cuttings to pot and gift to loved ones. When your plant is in it for the long haul, it is important to provide fresh soil periodically to keep your Philodendron fresh and not frazzled. Below are some situations where it’s good to repot.
- Your Philodendron needs better drainage or ventilation. If your Philo is still in the generic plastic pot they were rescued in, it may have incomplete drainage and likely no side ventilation. This stagnation of poorly aerated water is a recipe for root-rot. To tackle the unfortunately all-too-common issue of root-rot, we made the rePotme Slot Pot which offers complete drainage in the bottom and thorough ventilation around the sides.
- Your Philodendron has outgrown its pot. What grants the Philodendron their resilience is not so much durability as it is healing. The Philo is excellent at bouncing back. They don’t just grow back damaged bits after injury, they also have ongoing growth. When your giganteum gets giant, it’s a good time for a larger pot with a fresh fill of fertilized soil. A good indicator of having outgrown the container is the emergence of roots from the top or bottom.
- Your potting mix is too old and beginning to break down. Soil for a plant is not unlike the red stuff that keeps animals going. It gets the good stuff where it needs to go and carries off the bad stuff. Just like how animal bodies make and replace their red stuff about twice a year, a plant needs to have their soil replaced about twice a year. Because plants can’t make their own soil ….yet, we fresh-mix-to-order our Philodendron Imperial Potting Mix!
- Your Philodendron is experiencing fertilizer burns. If your Philo’s leaves, especially the edges, start to look a little crispy (burnt, dark, or discolored) after fertilizing, they could be experiencing fertilizer burn from exposure to too high a gradient of reactive ions. When this happens, the soil needs to be changed and after your plant heals, a smaller amount of fertilizer should be used after that point. Our FEED ME! Houseplant Food has easy-to-follow instructions and will ensure your Philodendron is fed properly.
Ok. It's time to repot your Philodendron. Go ahead and grab your portable potting bench or other container to catch the old soil and let’s get started!
How to Repot your Philodendron
- Lay your Philodendron on its side. Gently turn your Philodendron onto its side with while being careful not to damage any leaves.
- Carefully remove the old pot. Gently pull off the old pot. It should slip right off and expose the roots.
- Clean the root system. With clean hands, gently manipulate the roots to allow the old soil to fall out. Old soil can become toxic to a plant if it remains for too long. It can also smother the plant during watering sessions.
- Place your Philodendron in a new pot. The new pot needs to be larger than the bulk of the roots, but not more than a few inches at most. With your Philodendrons new pot in front of you, carefully place it into its new home.
- Add a potting soil designed for Philodendron. With your plant relieved of old soil and positioned in their new pot, carefully pour in their new potting soil, such as our Philodendron Imperial Potting Mix .
- That's it! Continue watering and feeding as you used to. To help with watering, we carry watering cans. For feeding/fertilizing, check out our FEED ME! Houseplant Food.
Just like us, Monstera grow in a diverse spectrum of sizes, shapes, and shades, and every one is beautiful and valid. With just a bit of love and accommodating care, Monstera will love you back for many good years to come!
