Yellow Leaves:  How to Know When to Repot Your Houseplant

Yellow leaves are a sign that your houseplant is under stress for being in the same pot far too long.  The condition known as pot-bound shows a solid mass of roots with little or no soil completely filling the pot.

The soil is a very important component for the  health of
your plant's root system.  It is where the plant absorbs the
necessary water and nutrients to keep them green and attractive.

In addition, the roots get too big for the pot they are in, there isn’t enough dirt to support them and the roots don't have room to spread out. Without a healthy root system your plants will suffer.  This leaves the plant unable to grow and they become stunted with yellow leaves.

Repot Houseplant to Prevent Yellow Leaves

As soon as you see roots coming out of the drainage hole,
take this as reminder to repot your plant in the spring.

If your plant can't seem to get enough water no matter how
much you water, it could be pot-bound. There are simply too
many roots in the pot and not enough soil to hold the needed
water.

This is what you must do:   Transfer plant to a larger pot  and always use fresh potting soil.

How to Repot Your Houseplants

1.  Check the roots to see if they are spread out all over
the place. Tap the container to loosen the plant and gently
ease the plant out. If the soil is dry and stuck in the pot,
moisten to loosed the rootball.  Next gently pull the plant
out of the pot.

2.  Repot your plant into a new pot that is only slightly
larger than the original. It can be 1 or 2 inches wider and
deeper. The size of the pot really matters because an
oversized pot will cause the plant to take up too much water.
This could lead to root rot and death of your plant.

3. In cases where the plant is too large to repot, remove the
top layer of potting soil and replace with fresh soil. You
can also maintain the plant's size by pruning back the top
and removing a third of the roots. Then take some fresh
potting soil and re-pot plant in the same pot.

4. Always use fresh sterilized potting soil. When you keep
using the same soil over and over again, your soil may just
be depleted of vital nutrients; therefore, you must replenish
the soil. Be sure to give your plant plenty of water and 
Keep it out of direct sunlight.

5. The right light exposure is vital because many indoor
houseplants are native to tropical rain forests, where light
levels are low. Strong, direct sunlight can injure your plant
and cause bleached, scorched leaves.

Yellow leaves are an indicator something is wrong. Carefully
examine your plant Apply these steps and you will become a successful indoor gardener!

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