From our perspective as geraniums, the process of being repotted is a monumental and often stressful life event. When we become root-bound, our existence is one of quiet desperation, and a skilled repotting is our liberation. Here is what we need from you to ensure our survival and flourishing.
Before you even pick up a pot, you must understand our plea for help. When our roots have exhausted the space in our current container, we cannot access sufficient water or nutrients. You will see our growth slow to a crawl, and our leaves may yellow despite proper watering. The most telling sign is when you gently lift us from our pot and find a dense, tangled web of roots circling the outer edges and bottom, with little to no soil visible. We are literally choking ourselves.
Your choice of a new pot is critical. Please select one that is only 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter than our current root ball. A pot that is too large will hold excess soil that stays wet for too long, leading to root rot, a fate far worse than being pot-bound. Ensure the new pot has excellent drainage holes. Fill the bottom third with a high-quality, well-draining potting mix. We geraniums despise having "wet feet," so a mix formulated for us or for containers is ideal.
This is the most delicate part. Water us lightly a few hours before the procedure to make our roots more flexible and less brittle. Tip the current pot on its side and gently ease us out. Do not pull us by our stems, as this can cause severe damage. Once we are free, you must carefully untangle and loosen the outer roots. If the root ball is extremely dense, you may need to make a few shallow, vertical cuts into the sides with a clean knife. This might seem violent, but it encourages new roots to grow outward into the fresh soil instead of continuing their circular prison.
Place us in the center of the new pot. The top of our root ball should sit about an inch below the rim of the pot to allow for watering. Begin filling in around the sides with fresh potting mix, gently tamping it down to eliminate large air pockets. Avoid packing the soil too tightly, as we need air to reach our roots. Once potted, water us thoroughly until water runs freely from the drainage holes. This step, called "watering in," helps the new soil settle around our roots and rehydrates us after the stressful ordeal.
Immediately after repotting, we are vulnerable. Place us in a location with bright, indirect light for about a week. Direct, harsh sunlight will add to our stress as we focus our energy on re-establishing our root system. Hold off on fertilizing for at least 3-4 weeks; our fresh soil contains nutrients, and our tender new roots can be burned by fertilizer salts. Only water again when the top inch of soil feels dry. With this careful aftercare, we will soon reward you with vigorous new growth and abundant blooms.
