You Ask – Mike Answers!
Ask our Head Grower, Mike Hicks, all of your burning planty questions.
The question below was asked of @littleprincetogo on Instagram last month:
Should I preemptively treat plants for pests?
Mike says:
I would not preventatively treat for pests, as it can cause the pest to build up a chemical resistance to the products we use to effectively treat. If you want to do something preventatively, the use of beneficial insects is a great addition to your plants and will take care of pests as they pop up.
For diseases, the only houseplant I would treat preventively is Begonias, as they are very prone to disease during colder months. Try using a copper-based fungicide and make sure to follow label directions.
How do you know it is time to repot your houseplants?
Mike says:
I would transfer your plant to a larger pot when you are noticing it becoming root bound. This is when the roots take up more space than soil. It happens when plants have been growing in the same container for a long time (like years!) and the roots are encircling the pot.
Pot-bound plants have tight masses of roots that fill their container and may spill out over the top or bottom. They are more difficult to keep hydrated because water moves through too quickly and doesn’t get absorbed.
I like to repot houseplants once a year in the spring or summer, as they are actively growing and will appreciate the room to grow. Only go up in pot size one to two inches. If you go bigger, you risk overwatering and possibly causing root rot issues.