Pot your plants up one size at a time.
When they are ready for a new pot they will let you know in different
ways. Roots coming out of the bottom of the pot is a sure fire way of
knowing you have a job to do. Other symptoms are drying out very
quickly, the size of the plant measured from leaf tip to leaf tip is another indication that
repotting is necessary.
If a plant measures 6" from leaf tip to leaf tip it should
be in a 2 1/2" pot.
9" from tip to tip needs a 3" pot,
12" needs a 4" pot and so on.
Do not skip sizes. Skipping sizes can mean sure death. It
keeps the root ball too wet, as it does not require all the space to
support itself, too wet sours in a short while and your plant will
die from root rot.
A big Thank you goes
out to Claudia
and Diane
for reminding me that I did not mention the fact that I have
re-potted and potted up many plants that were ready to bloom and
those that have been blooming for awhile and it doesn't seem to make
a difference to them. They just keep right on
blooming. Just one more reason why I love my African
violets so.
I am reserving my judgement
for those who are "growing to show" until I have heard from
Millie. So please don't try this on your show plants.
Until it has been verified.
Here is a plant that needs repotting. As
you can see it is well over the size limit for it's pot.
Here is the pot it will be transferred
to. Lol, I know you know that but I was hoping to show you the
difference in size. Come to think of it I wonder if this is how all
my fishermen caught those bigger fish than I remember cooking?
Set your pot up with a wick. I use nylon
squares or paper towels over the holes.
Put a bit of soil in the bottom of the
pot.
Tap it down lightly. I have a gravy spoon
here as I feel it is a neat tool to have in the plant room
Now put the pot your plant was removed from in
the center of the new pot.
Now keeping the pot in the middle of the other
fill the space between them with soil
tapping down very lightly just enough to keep the shape. Work
all the way around until the space is full of soil.