Not sure if you should repot your Zamioculcas (also called lucky feather or ZZ plant)? Here you will find hints and tips on when you should repot the plant and how to proceed! Read on and follow our instructions!
When to repot Zamioculcas?
Here are 4 signs you can tell that your lucky feather needs to be repotted:
- She is shaky, pale and has stopped growing.
- The roots have begun to grow out of the drainage holes in the ground.
- The strong roots have cracked the old pot.
- When watering, the water runs directly through the pot - without the soil actually getting wet.
What should you consider when repotting?
Use a larger pot.This is good for houseplants, which grow a lot and where the current pot has hindered growth. When choosing a new pot, consider using one that is only slightly larger than the last one. As a rule of thumb, it should be about 2.5 to 5 cm larger. If you choose a pot that is too large, you run the risk of the new soil not drying quickly enough between waterings, which could result in your plant suffocating in the wet soil.
Replacing the top layer of soil. This is necessary for large plants that are too hardy to repot. Remove the top layer of old soil and add new, fresh soil.
How to repot your ZZ plant
Water your plant to loosen the soil in the pot. Then remove the pot. Carefully pick up the plant and begin to loosen the pot without pulling on the trunk or branches. If the pot is difficult to remove, try cutting the soil away from the edges with a small knife. You can also lightly tap the outside of the pot with a tool or on the workbench.
Prune the roots. Do a root check and remove anything that looks dead, moldy or rotten. If both the soil and roots look healthy, avoid touching the root ball as this will cause stress to the plant. If there are thick, curled roots, loosen them with your fingers or cut them off.
If you are using the same pot again, shake the soil off the plant and cut off about 25% of the roots. Sothe lucky feather stays freshand small enough to live on in the same pot.
Clean the pot. Make sure the new pot is free of old soil. Wash it with soap, rinse well and pat dry. If you use a dirty container when repotting your plant, you risk having microorganisms living in the old soil that can infect your Zamioculcas.
Fill the bottom of the pot with soil. Make sure you fill in the right amount - the root ball should be a few centimeters below the edge of the pot, otherwise the pot will overflow when watering.
How to plant the plant: Place the lucky feather on the soil and check that it is centered before adding more soil. Then fill in the soil around the plant: gently tap it with your fingers to firm it up and check that the plant is not planted deeper than before.
Water the zamioculcas until the water comes out through the drainage holes.If your Zamioculcaswatered just before repotting, you can skip this step and stick to the schedule instead. More soil? Sometimes you need to add more soil after watering the plant. Make sure your lucky feather has enough soil around its roots before you finish.
Care after repotting the lucky feather
Repotting is very stressful for plants. It will take about a month for your Zamioculcas to fully recover and begin enjoying its new, improved environment. During this time, pay attention to the following:
- Place the plant in a bright but protected location.
- Water them, but don't overwater.
- Don't feed them. The new soil is filled with plant food, additional feeding can harm the already stressed roots.
