Gardening and Horticulture - Transplanting a Peace Lily

I have a root bound Peace Lily and need to know how to re-pot it. Do I place it as is on new potting soil and then finish adding soil? Or do I open up the root area first? Is there a rule of thumb for this when transplanting root bound plants? Thanks!
~mlminin @>}---}-----

Hi mlminin,

Everybody has their own way of doing it. I separate most of the roots and put several in a pot to make new plants. If you want to put them all back in one pot, separate them or keep them in little groups and put them in a bigger pot. Don't transfer them to a pot any larger than you need. The main thing is to give the roots a little room to grow.

Gami

Lilies are among those plants that prefer and do better when root-bound. You can repot in the same size if you wish.

Hi Sled,

I don't understand what you are saying. If a plant is root bound, what good does it do it to repot it in the same pot? Lilies DO need room for their roots to grow. Once the roots have filled up the bigger pot, then you will start seeing some top growth.

Gami

There are plants that thrive in crowded conditions - ficus, dracnae, indoor bulbs, other woody plants. What appears to a human as an unfavorable is actually optimal for the plant. They perform better in a pot that looks one size too small. Younger specimens will eventually outgrow the pot, but once mature they prefer to remain in the smaller pot.

It's best to consult a book or expert for the specific plant as it can vary even among cultivars of a species.

A potted plant (in the proper size pot) will typically consume the available nutrients in one growing season. Replacing the soil replenishes the nutrients - they don't last forever. An alternative is to fertlize regularly during the growing season.

Hi Sled,

I was going to let this go, because I'm not into disagreements. BUT you and I definitely disagree on repotting peace lilies.

I repotted some peace lilies this winter. I made some pots to give to others, but the majority I repotted back into the original pot. ONLY because with some plants missing, there was enough room for the original plants to grow again. They are not rootbound, and at the moment there are nine blooms in a 12" pot. They look healthier than they ever have. I have only fertilized them once with 1/3 strength of Miracle Gro.

Generally, houseplants need to fill the pots with their roots before there is any active top growth. That is the reason it is recommended to only go one size larger when repotting. When the active growth slows down or the leaves become smaller, it is time to repot.

Gami

You are correct. You phrased it well ...

"When the active growth slows down or the leaves become smaller, it is time to repot."

which is not necessarily when the plant is rootbound. Many plants continue to actively grow and exhibit healthy sized structures (leaves, stems, flowers) even though they are rootbound in what appears to be a pot out of proportion for its size.

Thank you both for all of your contributions toward educating me about re-potting Peace Lilies and such! It is re-potted and I hope to see larger leaves and flowers and taller stems in the future.
~mlminin Zone5/south central IN