Polka Dot plants typically maintain a tidy and mounded growth habit, rarely getting larger than a foot or more in height and width. Repotting to accommodate size is not often needed and one Hypoestes plant will quite happily grow in the same 6-inch pot for years. Plants that seem to be declining in health or infested with houseplant pests may need to move into fresh, clean potting soil or a different container with better drainage. The steps involved are simple and can be a great way for new houseplant gardeners to get experience without fear of disaster.
Potting Polka Dot Plant
Step 1 - Gently remove the plant from its nursery pot to keep the root ball intact as much as possible.
Step 2 - if the roots are a solid mass and look like they are circling around the outside of the root system, take a couple of minutes to tease the roots apart a bit to help them grow outward in fresh soil and a bigger pot.
Step 3 - Put a couple of inches of fresh houseplant potting mix in the bottom of the new pot. Do not worry about filling in drainage holes at the bottom. Excess water will flow out easily and will be caught in a drainage saucer or cache pot.
Step 4 - Place the plant in the new pot with the base of the top growth at the same level it was in the old pot. Gently fill in around the root ball with potting mix and firm in with your fingers to remove any large air pockets.
Step 5 - Water the plant well until liquid drains from the bottom. This ensures that as much of the potting mix is wetted down.
Repotting Polka Dot Plant
Newly bought plants from the garden center or nursery should always be repotted once roots begin to grow from the bottom drainage holes. Often the plants have been in their grower’s pots long enough to be pot-bound and require a container at least 2 inches larger in diameter to relieve the problem. Once the roots have been given more potting mix and a larger pot, they can grow laterally and are able to take up moisture and nutrients more efficiently. Another sign that your plant may be rootbound is severely declined leaf growth or yellowing and brown leaves, especially on new growth.
Best Soil For Polka Dot Plant
Tropical houseplants like Polka Dot plants thrive in potting mixes that are well draining while also retaining a moderate level of moisture in between watering sessions. All-purpose mixes made without peat moss are easy to find in garden centers and handy to use for a wide range of plants indoors and outside. Look for a brand that mixes in perlite, vermiculite or finely shredded bark for a lightweight and well-draining product. More experienced gardeners may want to mix up their own potting blends to suit different growing conditions or plants.
All of the components for a good homemade potting mix can be found in bags from garden centers or large nurseries and are easily mixed together and kept in a lidded bin in a protected spot at home out of the elements. One good mix for general houseplants has a ratio of 1:1:1. One bag of coconut coir, one bag of perlite, and one bag of high-quality compost or worm castings.
Polka Dot Plant Drainage
Drainage for Polka Dot plants is key to keeping them growing happy and healthy for many years. Ensure that the pot has plenty of drainage holes. Place the pot on a drainage saucer to make watering less messy while allowing all of the water to absorb into the potting mix.
Plants can also be potted into a plastic pot and then slid into a more decorative outer container. These outer containers are called cache pots and have solid bases and no drainage. Using a layer of river rocks in the bottom of the cache pot gives the plastic planting pot space for airflow so that the root system does not sit in water.
Sources:
“Pot-bound Indoor Plants”, University of Maryland, www.extension.umd.edu
 |
Author Robbin Small - Published 12-27-2024 |