Do your houseplants need to be re-potted? If so, Black Gold® offers a wide variety of product choices. We have four specialty mixes to choose from in addition to three standard all-purpose mixes. They are the perfect house plant potting soils.
Black Gold® African Violet Mix – Finicky African violets thrive in this blend of Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, compost, pumice, earthworm castings and screened forest humus. The pH has been balanced to create the optimal rich and porous medium for growing foliage and flowers. African Violets must be pot-bound to bloom, so it is important to choose the correct size of pot. You should choose a pot that is 1/3 larger in diameter then the plant, and keep in mind African Violets need to be repotted every six months. The new potting soil will give the plant new organic matter and nutrients, and will reduce the build-up of salts.
Black Gold® Bonsai Mix (No Longer Available)– Carefully developed to create an open and well-drained mix, this is the ideal growing environment for all bonsai. Our specialty designed formula is made with a blend of composted forest humus, earthworm castings and fine pumice. Black Gold® Bonsai mix is not just another potting soil; it is a place for the bonsai plant roots to flourish and support the plant. Nutrient and moisture retention will be minimal and will need to be carefully monitored by the caregiver. The key is to stimulate vigorous root growth which in turn will give you healthy shoot and leaf growth.
Black Gold® Cactus Mix – This combination of pumice, earthworm castings, compost and forest humus provides the perfect soil structure, bulk density and drainage for all types of cacti, bromeliads and succulents. Often when you purchase a cactus, it has been grown for several years in a small pot and has used up all of the nutrients in the soil. A wide unglazed clay pot is the preferred choice for cacti. Cacti have shallow-spreading roots and should not be placed in a pot that is out of proportion to the size of the plant. Transplant cacti when the plant has outgrown its pot, but avoid frequent repotting to keep from shocking the plant.
Black Gold® Orchid Mix – Our commercial-grade Orchid Mix is a well-blended combination of small fir bark, Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, perlite and screened pumice. With lime added to create a balanced pH, it’s ready to use and highly recommended for cymbidiums and other orchids. Just like the Bonsai Mix, our Orchid Mix is designed to provide support for orchids while retaining water and nutrients. Orchids should be repotted when the plant (not the roots) has grown larger than the pot. Roots often creep over the edge of the pot before the body of the plant makes it to the edge of the pot. This is not necessarily an indication that you need to repot the plant. The beginning of the growing season is the best time to repot your orchid. Placing some white rocks on the soil surface is also a nice touch.
Unless your specific house plant type is covered in the paragraphs above, we also have great choices with Black Gold® All Purpose with CRF, Black Gold® Natural & Organic or Black Gold®Waterhold Cocoblend for you to repot your houseplant.
Black Gold® All-Purpose with CRF is a nutrient-rich blend of Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, earthworm castings, forest humus, compost and pumice designed to provide moisture retention and good drainage. This is a great choice for any house plant in which you want to provide a continuous supply of fertilization. The Controlled Release Fertilizer within the mix lasts up to six months.
Black Gold Natural & Organic is a rich, loamy mix of screened earthworm castings, Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, compost, forest humus, perlite and pumice. Natural & Organic is OMRI Listed and is a perfect choice for homeowners wanting to have truly organic products in their house.
Black Gold Waterhold Cocoblend is a water-retaining blend of coconut fibers (coir), Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, earthworm castings and pumice. This OMRI Listed blend is a great choice when your house plants either need to stay on the moist side or you are concerned about them drying out.
General Guide for Re-potting Houseplants
Determining when a general house plant needs to be repotted can be more of an art than a science.
But here are a few rules to guide you in your decision-making process on when a plant needs to be repotted.
- When you remove the plant from the pot and all you see is roots
- Roots appear on the top of the soil or grow through the drainage holes
- When new growth appears smaller than older growth
- The house plant quickly wilts after normal watering
It is important to remember that over-watering or having the soil too compact can also cause symptoms 1 and 2.
Houseplants should only be repotted when they are actively growing, which is typically spring.
When you select your new pot size, make sure you only select a pot 1-2 inches larger than the existing pot. A pot of the proper size also helps prevent root rot. Ensure the pot you use has plenty of drainage holes, and place a piece of gravel by the hole to keep in the potting soil, but at the same time be sure the water can drain. If the plant is rootbound, make sure to cut or unwind any circling roots and spread out the roots so they can easily take advantage of the new soil. Replant the houseplant at the same soil level it was previously grown in,ideally a little below the top of the pot, and gently press the soil down around the roots to ensure normal soil compaction. Immediately give your plant a good watering and add additional soil if settling occurs after the watering. Once you house plant has been re-potted, place it in good, filtered light out of direct sunlight for a couple of weeks until it re-establishes itself. Black Gold® potting soils allow your houseplants to enjoy all the riches of the earth, indoors and out.