How to Repot Sprouts
Repotting is the process of moving a plant to a bigger container so that its roots have room to grow. Allowing the roots to spread out boosts the plant's growth rate and helps it remain healthy. This is particularly important in small sprouts, as they are often started in very small containers. While this is beneficial for the initial sprouting process, a larger container is necessary to facilitate proper growth as the sprouts mature. You need about two minutes per plant to repot sprouts. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Moisten the sprouts two days before you plan to repot them so the soil is damp when you handle it.
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2
Purchase pots that are approximately 1 inch larger than the current containers' diameters.
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3
Fill the bottom of each new pot with 1/2 inch of gravel and 1 to 3 inches of potting soil. The pots should be about one-quarter to one-third full. The gravel allows proper water drainage so the soil does not become soggy.
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4
Slip the butter knife between the sprout's container and soil, sliding it all around to loosen it. Place your hand over the top of one sprout's current container. Turn the container over and tap the sides softly until the soil releases, then pull the container away.
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5
Brush away approximately one-quarter of the excess potting soil from the root cluster with your finger. Place the sprout into the prepared pot, roots down, in the center. The point where the stem emerges from the soil should be approximately 1 inch below the top of the pot. If it is too low or too high, remove the sprout and its root cluster and add more soil. Or, alternatively, remove some soil.
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Add potting soil around the sprout's existing soil, filling in the pot. Tap the pot against a firm surface to remove air pockets and settle the soil, and then add more to level it. Repeat the process of removing the sprouts from their current containers, placing them in a new pot and filling in soil.
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Water the sprouts to moisten the new soil. Avoid disturbing them for at least two weeks so the roots become acclimated and new growth begins.
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Tips & Warnings
Take care not to break the roots when repotting sprouts, as this can stunt the plant's growth severely.
If you have a pot dense with sprouts, follow the same process to remove the soil from the container. Break up the soil into several small sections, taking care to damage as few roots as possible. Place each small section into the prepared pots. There should be about 1 inch of soil on all sides of the sprouts.
Do not use pots with more than a 1-inch-diameter increase from the sprouts' current containers. Oversized pots can cause the soil to remain moistened for too long, preventing proper root oxygenation.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
