How Long Can You Leave Plants in the Nursery Pot?
Is your plant still living in its original container? It’s sometimes hard to know when to leave plants in their nursery pots and when to take them out. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum explains when is the best time to ditch the nursery pot for a new container.
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When we bring home our new plants, they can look nice and cozy in their nursery pots. They typically have all they need to flourish, from good soil to nutrients. Why would we disturb them?
While your plants may look comfortable in their original homes, it may only be temporary. Some plants feel the stress of their environment quickly. Others, however, grow so slowly that you may never have to repot them.
Knowing when to move your plants to their new home depends on several factors. Let’s dive into how long you should leave your plants in their nursery pots and why it matters. The answer may be more complicated than you think.
The Short Answer
The short answer is it really depends on several factors. These include what type of plant you have, its age, what size of pot it came in, and the health of its soil. Some plants need to be repotted right away, while others can wait in their original containers for years. Sometimes, you just want to use better containers like these for your precious plants.
The Long Answer
Before you choose whether to keep your plant in its nursery container or transplant it immediately, let’s look at the factors below. You’ll learn when to transplant your plant and why it matters.
Where Did You Buy It?
Nurseries make a good proportion of their money from selling starters. To keep green-thumbed customers coming back, these plants have to look healthy and amazing. The best nurseries ensure great soil and care go into their starters before you bring them home.
If you buy your plant at a well-respected nursery, you can probably take your time before replanting it. However, if your plant is from a nursery that uses the cheapest potting mix and container for its starters, transplant it right away.
Hardware stores, chain stores, and drugstores rarely have the best selections. They’ll probably use the wrong potting mixture and even add other elements like plastic to make it look appealing. If you bought your plant from a store like this, transplant it immediately with better soil and a better container.
What Kind of Plant Did You Buy?
Knowing what type of plant you bought and its needs is a major factor. Some plants, like succulents, will need a new container almost immediately. They thrive in breathable terracotta with well-drained cactus mix.
Nurseries typically grow orchids with extreme care. You should wait until your orchids have finished blooming before repotting them.
Other houseplants can survive in their nursery pots as long as they have good-quality soil. Unless you bought your plants from a nursery that knows the needs of each plant, it’s best to repot them immediately.
How’s the Soil?
When you bring home a new specimen, inspect its soil. If it drains well and appears rich in organic material, you can typically hold off on repotting.
After watering, check and see how well the medium drains. If it appears soggy, it’s best to find a new container immediately. Look up which type works best for your species and replant it with the right mixture.
As mentioned before, hardware stores and other outlets that don’t specialize in plants probably use the cheapest mediums. Sometimes, they use the wrong growing medium altogether. If the dirt appears cheap or of the wrong mixture, repot immediately.
Know Your Plant’s Needs
Some species prefer to have lots of room to grow in their containers. Others can thrive in cramped conditions. Some are heavy feeders, while others barely need nutrients to thrive.
Double-check your plant’s needs when you bring it home. Check and see what type of soil it prefers, when to fertilize it, and what its watering needs are. Also, research if it’s susceptible to diseases like root rot that are related to soggy dirt.
Each species will need specific growing conditions to thrive in its container. If these conditions are not met in its nursery pot and original soil, it will need a new container soon.
Below are a few common houseplants and their preferred growing conditions. If you notice they’re growing outside of their needs, repot them immediately.
Pothos
Pothos prefer all-purpose potting mix. They love containers with plenty of drainage holes. The containers should be a few inches larger than the root balls. They thrive with a balanced organic fertilizer every 2 or 3 months during their growing season.
Orchids
Orchids are all very different. Common species in the Phalaenopsis genus are epiphytic and prefer growing in orchid bark. Terrestrial orchids prefer regular gardening soil.
Know which type of orchids you’re bringing home. Repot them after they bloom in a mixture and container that’s right for them.
Snake Plants
Snake plants love well-drained soil with plenty of organic material. They are some of the last plants you should repot. They love to be slightly rootbound.
If your snake plants are from a trusted nursery and appear healthy, you can hold off before you repot them. If they’re becoming top-heavy after a few seasons, carefully transplant them into larger containers.
Cacti
Cacti and other succulents prefer lots of drainage and breathable containers. If your cactus comes in a plastic container, transplant it into a terracotta or clay pot soon. If the soil appears moist or soggy, it will need a new medium of cactus mix.
Boston Fern
Boston ferns love rich, well-drained growing medium. They grow best in a mixture of peat moss or coconut coir that absorbs moisture but never becomes overly soggy. As long as the growing medium is good, you probably won’t have to repot your Boston ferns.
Instead of repotting them, try dividing them once their roots overcrowd their containers. You can do this every few years for healthy root development.
How Do They Look?
Finally, it may sound obvious, but if your new plant appears sickly or in poor health, it may need repotting. Even good-looking individuals may be hiding some serious issues. Still, the best sign your plant needs a new home is when it’s showing signs of stress.
If you notice wilting, dropping leaves, or yellowing, it could be a number of issues related to its growing conditions. Check for roots growing out of the topsoil. If you can, gently lift it out of its container and check its root ball. If you notice it’s outgrowing its pot, replant it in a larger container.
Repotting your new plant can solve many issues. It allows you to check for diseases, root rot, and other serious issues. It also gives you total control over the growing conditions.
Final Thoughts
Although knowing when to repot your plant depends on a lot of factors, it really depends on its health and where you got it. Always transplant carefully to avoid transplant shock.
Leave your plant in its original nursery pot as long as it looks healthy, and the container is of decent quality. If your specimen is in perfect health, there’s really no need to repot it right away. However, as soon as it shows signs of stress from its growing medium or container, consider repotting it right away.
