Not only do houseplants enhance a room's appearance; they also provide the satisfaction that comes with caring for a growing thing. Each new leaf or tiny blossom, sprout, or growth spurt is evidence that the plant is healthy and that the environment you've provided is a good one.
Bringing summer plants indoors for the winter is one way to temporarily add to your store of houseplants and keep your outdoor plants growing strong from year to year. Because these plants have just experienced their summer growth spurt, however, they are likely to be overgrown and root bound. Cutting them back to neaten their appearance and repotting them to encourage sufficient nutrients and moisture will contribute greatly to their health and longevity.
Begin by cutting away any extraneous growth. Don't be shy; the plant will grow back stronger once it's been pruned back to a manageable size. To determine whether a plant is root bound, tip the pot on its side, and slowly pull the plant out of the pot. If the roots look too shallow or crowded, they'll require some attention. If roots are shallow, repotting in a pot of the same size is fine; just make sure the new pot is sterilized and that the soil you use is fresh. If the plant is root bound, it should be transplanted to a pot that is approximately 1 inch larger than the original.
Treated properly, many outdoor plants make rewarding houseplants. A little sun, some water, and the right pot will help ensure that they stay strong and healthy until they're put outdoors next spring.
Technique
Repotting a Plant
Ceramic shard
New pot
Potting soil (containing a mix of topsoil, peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, grit, charcoal, slow-release fertilizer, and bonemeal)
Chopstick or bamboo stick
1. Lift the plant with one hand, and gently tease the roots apart with the other, pulling the roots downward and away from the soil. Don't worry if some of the roots fall off.
2. Place a ceramic shard at the bottom of the new pot, then fill it with the potting soil. Add water to the soil.
3. Set the plant in the fresh soil, centering the top of the root mass 1/2 inch below the rim of the pot. Put new soil around the top of the plant. Water the soil again.
4. Using a chopstick or a bamboo stick, tap on the surface of the soil; this will help the soil make its way to the bottom of the pot. Tamp the pot on a hard surface to pack the soil; this will remove any air pockets around the roots and the wall of the pot.
