plant wilting after repotting: As a plant keeper, you might face plant wilting after repotting; This is a very annoying and sad event. However, it is normal for plants to experience wilting after repotting due to the stress. When your plant needs a new or bigger pot, repotting will help your plant grow better. But if you don’t do it carefully, it can hurt your plant and cause yellow leaves and plant wilting. Plant wilting after repotting usually happens due to root damage, unbalanced ratio of roots to leaves, soil type, repotting at the wrong time, and improper pots.
In this article, provided by theHplants team, we talk about plant wilting after repotting and how you can prevent shocking that occur as a result of repotting. We aim to answer a common question: “How can we save a wilting plant?” So, read it to the end. Don’t forget that even experts can face such problems, so it’s better to keep abreast with the latest information in this field.
Reasons for plant wilting after repotting
It may surprise you to find out that plants are also susceptible to different types of shocks and that the stress they endure can impact their health. There are two types of stress: living and non-living factors. Living stress factors include organisms like viruses, bacteria, and nematodes, just to name a few, that have the potential to spread disease.
On the other hand, non-living stresses consist of environmental variables, including sudden changes in temperature and plant location; repotting can be classified in this category. The good news is that repotting will not hurt your plant on a large scale, and if you do it properly, the plant will get its health back to normal quickly. It’s very important to learn the perfect time for repotting so that your plant gets the least damage.
In the following section, we will take a look at the reasons for plant wilting after repotting.
The wilting of indoor plants can be due to various factors, in addition to changing the pot, we have discussed cactus drooping, wrinkling of snake plants leaves in separate articles, which you must read.
Root damage while repotting
The first and most important reason for plant wilting after repotting is the damage to the plant’s root. Roots are very vulnerable, and you need to be careful with them as they are among the vital parts of the plant. Roots’ shapes differ from one plant to another, meaning they can be fibrous roots or taproot. Repotting plants with fibrous roots requires a lot of care because root hairs have taken up more space in the soil; damage to these parts will disrupt the water and nutrient absorption process, leading to aerial organs like leaves and stems getting yellow.
To prevent root damage while repotting, water the plant before taking it out of the pot to soften the soil around the root. Doing so will ease the process. It’s not recommended to report a weak plant unless you face a condition in which the only way to save a plant is to repot the root’s fungal diseases, for instance. If your plant has weak roots, you better leave it alone. But if it has healthy and strong roots, repot it carefully.
an unbalanced ratio of roots to leaves
A plant that has too little root system to support its foliage, or vice versa, will have an uneven ratio of roots to leaves. Nutrient shortages, stunted growth, and wilting can all result from this imbalance. Examining the plant’s root structure and pot size is crucial to solving this issue. Repotting the plant into a bigger container with new, well-draining soil is necessary if the roots are crowded too closely together. Keeping a balanced ratio will be significantly easier with routine observation and pruning of the leaves or even the roots of the plant.
Type of soil and plant wilting after repotting.
Sometimes, if you don’t pay attention to the soil you choose for your plant, apart from the shock that your plant might experience, it may lead to yellow leaves and other problems like plant wilting after repotting. Healthy soil is crucial for plants to the extent that the soil itself can hurt your plant if it is composed of materials that are not suitable for the plant.
You should use a different type of soil based on your plant. Each type of plant needs a specific type or mixture of soils. In addition to soil type, its acidity is also important in plant growth. If the plant was fresh in the previous soil and had no problems, it is better to use the same soil composition for the pot, but if the plant has suffered from soil-based pests and diseases, it’s better to use new soil. Soil-based pests and diseases are factors that can be transferred to plants through the soil, and they can even live in the same environment for a long time. Make sure that your soil does not have these factors. Use soil that is rich in nutrients because the plant you moved needs nutrients for rooting and coping with stress.
Repotting at the wrong time and season
Other reasons for plant wilting after repotting are doing it at the wrong time and season. If you do not choose the right time to change your plant’s pot and soil, the plant may not have enough time to grow and get used to its new environment, which will cause symptoms such as yellowing. In some situations, you don’t need to repot the plant at all, and changing the plant is even more harmful.
For most plants, you need to repot or change the soil during the spring, which is growth season, so they can adapt themselves to the new conditions. Repotting at the wrong time can cause leaves to turn yellow and wilt. You should change the pot when the root protrudes from the bottom of the pot, or the plant has stopped growing after a while.
Choosing improper pot for houseplants
If you don’t choose a proper pot, your plant will get wilted after repotting. Get a well-suited pot before repotting. You should choose a pot according to the size of the plant. If the pot is too small, roots cannot grow, and if it is too big, the plant will spend lots of energy rooting; therefore, aerial parts of the plant will not grow properly. The type of pot you choose is also very important. The pot should be well-drained so that the excess water does not lead to fungal diseases. If you are using the same pot, make sure to sanitize it carefully.
Watering and plant wilting after repotting
Underwatering is always a pain in the neck. When changing the pot, you should be very careful about the amount of watering; yellow leaves of plants can appear as a result of moisture, lack of water or roots’ inability to absorb the water. To ensure the amount of water is sufficient, you can use a psychrometer or check the soil with your finger. If soil moisture is not a problem, you can make sure that your plant is not experiencing drought stress. After a while, the root will absorb the water, and the symptoms of yellowness and wilting in the houseplant will gradually disappear. Note that watering too much or excess water not getting out of the pot can lead to root rot. Water and moisture will create a perfect environment for fungus, and symptoms like plant wilting and leaves turning yellow will appear.
How do I save a wilting plant after repotting?
It is very important to provide the plant with its necessary requirements. You need to provide the plant with enough water, light, temperature and nutrients. Here are some useful tips that can prevent the plant from experiencing wilting after repotting.
- After changing the pot, be sure to feed the plant with amino acids and water.
- Do not place the pot in a place with too much light
- Be sure to check that the pot has holes; if this is not available, make some holes in the bottom.
- Remove the wilted leaves from the plant.
- Adjust the temperature of where the plant is kept between 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 22 degrees Celsius).
final points about repotting plants
After repotting or changing the soil, do not move your plant to a new place. Repotting will cause a shock to the plant and moving it to a new place will amplify this shock and can lead to yellow leaves and plant wilting.
- To get the plant out of the soil, you can tap around the pot to make it easier for the plant to come out.
- Take care not to damage the stem and roots.
- Water the plant one day before repotting. Moisture can help to easily remove the plant from the pot and cause less damage to the roots of the plant.
- Do not water the repotted plant too much, and just wet the surface of the soil.
The shock to the plant can be fixed according to the plant kind; for example, for small plants, the time for this shock to disappear may reach 3 weeks, while for trees and bigger plants, this period can take up to a year. So, you need to be patient and examine the plant from time to time.
Remember that your plant needs special care and attention after repotting. You need to provide enough light and water. Find out the proper amount of water to prevent fungal disease. Control the temperature, and do not expose the plant to air conditioners or coolers, as well as heating devices. Do not feed the plant with fertilizers after repotting, and let it get used to the new situation.
Conclusion
After observing all the points about repotting or changing the soil of the plant, remember that the plant needs time to overcome the shock, and by the passing of time, the plant can be healthy again. Before and after repotting, the plant provides its requirements, such as light water. When changing the pot, the plant may get damaged, so it’s better to provide it with these conditions so that it doesn’t get another disease and gets used to the new pot faster. If, before you change the plant pot, the plant has yellow leaves and other symptoms such as burns, it is better to check the root when repotting and see if there is any sign of root rot or not. We would be happy to hear if you have any other experience with this problem. This article has been reviewed by Charles W Melnyk.