Repotting rescued plants can be tackled now — with the right prep

Q: My best friend’s aunt passed away recently. Auntie grew a lot of houseplants. The family has removed a few of their favorites but there are still a lot left. My bestie has asked, since I have a lot of plants too, if I’d take the balance of them and give them a good home. I explained that I’d take them but would aim to rehome them with friends and that was acceptable. Having picked up the lot, I’ve noticed that several are in need of repotting desperately and some could even be split up. I do know that now isn’t the best time to do repotting, but I want to give these guys the best chance at success so that I can continue auntie’s plant legacy. Any suggestions to make the plants have an easier go of things will be much appreciated! — H.H., Albuquerque

A: That is so kind of you to assist your bestie when her heart is heavy. You are correct, it’s not the best time to attempt this type of project, but I’m betting on you.

The first thing I’m going to suggest is that, if you are able, offer auntie’s plants a space of their own so, if heaven forbid, any of them are harboring pests, that they don’t affect your treasures.

Next will be to aim to keep them warmish. If they have been placed in an unused room, check to see if the heat register is open, so these guys don’t get chilled. Is there adequate light in the space they are being housed? If needed, a couple of lamps offering more light during the day surely will help.

Next, I’d suggest being fairly, I don’t want to say brutal, but, make the decision that even with your tender care will the plant make it? It’s a tough call, but better to deal with the fairly healthy and be able to go on.

Next, have you the space to do the repotting chore indoors? Don’t start without giving you and the tools you’re going to need the space to be successful.

Then the potting soil. So much potting soil at retail levels nowadays is kept outdoors. Or at least the larger bags, for sure. So I’d buy the soil as soon as you can and keep it inside to warm up. Imagine getting jostled from your home, unpotted and then offered cold soil to wrap your roots? That’d be just plain rude.

You’ll want a pair of clean, sharp scissors on hand to snip away damaged leaves or icky roots, a garbage can to collect the old soil, and I’d lay down a tarp to catch any material that could come from the repotting process too.

Pick two or three plants to begin with to repot. Knock them out of the pots and wipe the pots clean as well as you can. I’d go so far as washing the emptied pots in hot soapy water too. That way while they are air drying you can do any snipping you need to do to tidy up the plants and the roots. If they have pebbles or potsherds to keep the soil in the pots, washing them would be good too.

Next, place some of the not cold potting soil in the pots and then place the plants on that layer. Your most important goal will be to keep the plants at the same depth they were planted to before — so adjust accordingly. A smidgen deeper is OK but don’t go bonkers.

Once the plants have been tidied and are safely repotted, I’d place them in a tub or a big bucket and SLOWLY water with tepid temperature water until the pots are sitting in water. Allow them to sit for an hour to be sure the soil is thoroughly dampened, then drip the newbies off, place them on a saucer and begin another round.

It might take a while to get everybody repotted, but since you, like auntie, are a plant person, I know you’ll succeed even if it isn’t the best time of year for a project like this.

Good on you and Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.