11 Reasons Why Your Houseplants Keep Dying After Being Repotted

It ’s such a bummer when you carefully graft your favourite Epipremnum aureum or violin foliage fig — plant that hail from the tropical rain forest of southerly Mexico and Central America — into fresh land , only to see them sulkiness , wilt , or bad , bulge fading away ! I know how frustrating it is : you ’ve given your greenish companions the hope of new nutrient and way to grow , yet they seem to react as if you ’ve charge the ultimate treachery . After all , repotting is supposed to be a fresh start — why , then , do so many plant go downhill after what should have been a positive change ?

In this article , we ’ll research eleven common pitfalls that turn that hopeful repotting session into a plant dramatic event . From root seismic disturbance make by jostle root system to the danger of select the ill-timed potting mix , each section plunge into a specific ground and offers perceptiveness string from my own trial ( and fault ! ) as a passionate nurseryman . We ’ll talk about how the repotting timing feign a snake plant ( native to West Africa ) , why a pothos ( Epipremnum aureum , native to the Solomon Islands and invasive in some tropical region ) can suffer if repotted at the haywire time of year , and how unintended pest — like fungus gnats — might use that new , moist soil as their nesting earth . By the ending , you ’ll have a clearer idea of how to repot successfully , keeping your indoor jungle thriving rather than watching it fade away !

Overly Large Pot Leading to Waterlogged Roots

When you give a flora like a adulteress ( Crassula ovata , native to South Africa and Mozambique ) an tremendous sess that overshadow its root ball , you might think you ’re place it up for volatile development — but often , the paired happens . That oversized enclosed space fill with water each sentence you irrigate , and since the roots do n’t fill all that distance , the dirt stay constantly moist . Jade plants , which acquire in arid regions with fast - draining , flaxen soils , are particularly sensitive to soggy conditions . Roots deprived of O become susceptible to rot , and presently your once - vibrant succulent starts to yellow and collapse .

Moreover , constantly lactating soil can create a perfect nesting surround for fungus gnats and springtails , which feast on decay constitutive matter and damage stem . As these pestilence lay egg in the moist pot mix , their larvae munch away at tender root word hairs , further sabotage the plant ’s water intake . Before you have a go at it it , the strumpet ’s leaves drop one by one — an unwelcome surprisal for anyone expecting a robust , full commode !

Using the Wrong Potting Mix

One of my favorite houseplants is the Swiss cheeseflower plant life ( Monstera deliciosa ) , earlier from the tropical rainforests of Central America . Monsteras boom in chunky , well - aerate mixture that mime the forest floor — think bark chips , peat , perlite , and oxford gray . But when I first adopted mine , I used a generic all - purpose potting stain , which compacts quick and retain too much moisture . Consequently , the roots became waterlogged , and the plant ’s low leaves turned mushy and brown . In effect , I create a breeding ground for stem - putrefaction fungus , and the Monstera ’s ancestor testicle depart to smell sour within day .

Similarly , orchids — like Phalaenopsis , epiphytes native to southeastern Asia — require airy , coarse medium such as barque or sphagnum moss . By burying an orchid in dumb soil meant for African reddish blue , you smother its roots and invite microbial pathogens to jump in . If you ’re like for a dracaena ( Dracaena fragrans , aboriginal to tropical Africa ) , remember they favor a slightly acidulous , well - draining premix — too much Lucius DuBignon Clay or heavy peat and you ’ll catch those glossy leaves droop sadly as root health collapses . Always match potting medium to industrial plant origin and character , and you ’ll sidestep needless repotting disasters .

Damaging Roots During the Repotting Process

I still cower thinking about the time I repotted my ZZ plant ( Zamioculcas zamiifolia ) , aboriginal to East Africa ’s rocky grassland . Eager to remove tightly ricochet tooth root , I pulled the root ball aside too sharply , snapping off healthy rootstock . While ZZZs support some rough treatment , many houseplants ca n’t recover from severed roots . When you sever peripheral theme — especially the ashen , fibrous confluent roots — your flora ’s ability to absorb piddle and nutrients plumb bob . In a matter of day , you ’ll notice the leafage wilt and the radical root word appearing lifeless , which is grievous for any plant buff .

Furthermore , damaged roots create open wounds that take in pathogens like Pythium or Phytophthora to colonise . These root - rot kingdom Fungi then proliferate in the moist , fresh potting soil where they can quickly make headway a foothold . Once root bunkum stage set in , your dear Scindapsus aureus , which in its aboriginal Solomon Island habitat benefit from well - draining canopy soil , ca n’t take up moisture efficaciously and may perish despite your best efforts . Always loosen root ball gently — teasing aside soil with care rather than yanking or cutting — so you maintain as many root hairs as potential .

Insufficient Drainage in the New Pot

Even when you select an appropriately sized container for your peace lily ( Spathiphyllum wallisii ) , native to Central American wetlands , you’re able to sentence it by forgetting drain holes . I once repot a roaring public security lily into a silklike ceramic pot without any bottom hole , think the tray would answer . Within days , the water had nowhere to go , pool under the roots . Despite wiping up visible puddle , the underlie soil remained waterlogged , trigger root rot so life-threatening that the plant never recovered .

Plants adjust to wetland edges — like pacification lilies — need plenteous drain to keep roots moist but not steep . Without it , pathogens nestle into invariably dampish filth , munching on decaying roots and relinquish toxins that further stress the plant . As the roots suffocate , leaves yellow from the base upward , point a systemic collapse you ca n’t reverse . Always choose pots with holes or add an extra level of coarse gravel at the bottom ( though this is no substitute for proper drainage ! ) . write yourself from a succeeding Zane Grey patch of musty soil mean prioritizing drain — even when that stylish novel pot tempts you .

Transplant Shock from Sudden Environmental Changes

guess moving your violin leafage figure ( Ficus lyrata ) , aboriginal to affectionate , smart West African rainforests , into a disconsolate corner after repot . The sudden shift from sizable light to partial tint jolts the plant ’s energy cycle — photosynthesis slows , and stress hormones surge . I ’ve ascertain Ficus leaf throw away en masse simply because the Modern location lacked the bright , indirect light they hunger . In nature , these giants originate under dappled woods luminance , so indoors they need similar conditions . Without them , their newly interrupt roots ca n’t support leaf retentivity , and those iconic fiddle - shaped leafage plump to the floor .

Likewise , repotting often require trim a few roots to free the root ball . conflate that hurly burly with a temperature drib — especially common when repotting by a chilly windowpane in early spring — and you look double the shock . Your snake plant ( Sansevieria trifasciata ) , accustom to West Africa ’s static fondness , might protest by producing diffuse , yellow leave . To minimise transplant shock , repot during the growing season — spring to early summer — keep industrial plant in a stable microclimate , and fend off moving them to drastically dissimilar illumination or temperature zone until roots re - build themselves .

Improper Depth—Planting Too Shallow or Too Deep

Last autumn , I repotted my beloved African violet ( Saintpaulia spp . ) , earlier from Tanzania ’s cloud forests , only to bury its crown too deeply . I did n’t bring in that even though they prefer well - draining land , African reddish blue ask their top slightly above the soil production line . Within a week , the al-Qa’ida of the flora began rotting , and parting slid into a soggy mess — an utterly avertable tragedy . Conversely , when a plant life like a spider plant ( Chlorophytum comosum , native to tropic and southerly Africa ) sits too high-pitched , its thin root dry out rapidly , get out the top exposed to air while the lower roots linger in dampness .

In nature , spider plants develop as understorey flora anchored just beneath the leaf litter on woodland floors . When I did n’t replicate that , I finish up with expose roots that curled up , desiccated , and then became prime real estate for root - eating gnat to lah - Diamond State - dah their larval lives . Whether you ’re dealing with a philodendron ( Philodendron hederaceum , native to Central and South America ) that need a shallow , stable groundwork or a fiddle leaf Libyan Fighting Group that demands a deeper anchoring , check that the potting depth matches the industrial plant ’s natural habit . Too shallow , and the roots shinny to admission pee ; too cryptic , and you drown the stem in disease - prone conditions .

Failure to Acclimate to New Light Conditions

philodendron , aboriginal to tropic rainforest , often flourish in lustrous , filtered light . Yet if you rush a repot philodendron from a dim shelf right into unmediated midday sunlight , you might sear those bid leaves straightaway after the stress of being moved to invigorated soil . I once did this with a Peace Ivy ( Aglaonema modestum , native to Indonesian rainforests ) , tossing it on my brightest windowsill post - repot . By the next morning , the farewell were bleached and curl — a classic sunburn on a plant that prefers gentle dappled shade , just like its wild counterpart .

On the impudent side , move a plant life habituate to bright conditions — like a staghorn fern ( Platycerium spp . , native to tropic and semitropical rainforests ) that grows epiphytically in high spirits in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree branches — into low luminosity immediately after repotting can run to chlorosis and eventually cell collapse . Those radiating fronds become leggy and pale as they scramble for photons . To prevent this , acclimatise gradually : keep your newly potted plant in a interchangeable light zone for a calendar week , then slowly agitate it nigher to its idealistic illumination . This piecemeal approaching ensures leaf do n’t whip out at acute temperateness or neglect in dim corners .

Underwatering During Root Establishment

It ’s tempting to see a newly repotted plant drooping — its leaves sad and droopy — and think , “ This pitiable guy needs more water ! ” Yet overzealous lachrymation at this stage can wash off aside the delicate root hairs that are trying to install themselves in that fresh medium . For instance , my African violet begin to droop presently after I cave in it a deep soaking post - repotting — only to gain the excess water had compress the fine , mossy substratum , cutting off atomic number 8 current . That wet vividness invite root pathogens , and within days , I was battling gnat and fungal mould or else of nurturing new root increment .

However , the flip side is underwatering . Some Modern rootage need consistent moisture to riddle the fresh soil , specially for moisture - loving perennials like Boston ferns ( Nephrolepis exaltata , native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas ) . If you let the soil dry out too quickly , that fragile root web can shrivel before it to the full establishes , exit your fern gasping for water at the base . light upon that middle ground — keeping the medium evenly moist but not soggy — is tricky but crucial . A good rule of ovolo : water thoroughly once , then allow the top inch of grime to become slightly ironic before re - tearing .

Introducing Pathogens or Pests via Unsterilized Tools or Soil

I ’ll never forget repot an innocent ivy arum ( Epipremnum aureum , aboriginal to the Solomon Islands and trespassing in many tropical zones ) using some hand - me - down pot and one-time potting soil . A week later , those charming warmheartedness - shaped leaves were riddled with ignominious spots , and tiny white larvae crawl in the top stratum of soil . I had introduced root - rot pathogens and fungus gnat eggs that used the moist environment as their nesting primer . It ’s heartrending to observe a live houseplant , known for tolerating low light and discrepant watering , declination because of a minute oversight in soil hygiene .

Even commercial potting mixes can carry fungous spores — especially if put in in moist warehouse . And when you use the same trowel or pruning shears from one industrial plant to another without clean , you risk spread disease . For instance , anthracnose kingdom Fungi , which can taint peace treaty lilies ( aboriginal to tropical Americas ) , easily hitchhike on unsterilized cutting tools . To keep this , broil ceramic pots in the oven at low heat to kill lurking spores , discard any suspicious sometime stain , and wipe down your tool with isopropyl alcohol between every utilisation . A little extra scrubbing now saves you plant funeral later !

Repotting During Dormant Season Instead of Active Growth Period

Repotting a snake flora ( Sansevieria trifasciata , aboriginal to West Africa ) in the dead of winter might seem harmless , but this is when its metabolic processes slow to a crawl . I find out this the hard style last December : after moving it to a unfermented , large pot , the plant life sat in dim , cool conditions for weeks , refusing to give rise any new root word . By spring , I noticed yellowing fleck , and its rhizomes had lead off to wither from lack of active growth . snake in the grass plant , and many other mintage , opt to repot in natural spring or early summertime when temperatures warm up and daylight lengthens — their roots are primed to explore fresh land .

as well , tropic begonia ( Begonia spp . , aboriginal to humid , forested realm of Asia and Africa ) often die back or go semi - dormant in cooler months . repot at that time disrupts their alimental militia without the benefit of rise sap flow rate . They simply ca n’t bounce back until the growing season resumes , and sometimes they never do . Instead , point to repot when you see new leaf or root tips — clear signs of active growing — so your industrial plant , whether it ’s a philodendron or a rubber works ( Ficus elastica , native to Southeast Asia ) , can immediately habituate the unused resources rather than ache in a winter letup .

Improper Fertilization Immediately After Repotting

I hold it — I’ve been guilty of that excited impulse to feed my repot monstera ( Monstera deliciosa ) as shortly as I position down fresh soil . I thought , “ New medium means hungry stem ! ” But that kick to fertilise cause fertilizer cauterise : the tender , regenerating roots could n’t handle the sudden nutrient spike , and those iconic split leaves developed dark-brown scorch marks at the edge . In the wilderness , Monstera ’s antecedent glean nutrients slowly from decompose timberland litter , not a concentrated lick of synthetic fertiliser . By trying to accelerate outgrowth , I inadvertently punctuate that tropical looker from Central America .

Similarly , while fertilizing can help fill again depleted substrate , a young ZZ flora ( Zamioculcas zamiifolia ) rerooting itself does n’t need extra nitrogen right off . These flora store water and nutrient in rhizomes , so a month without added fertilizer is perfectly fine . alternatively of get to for a high - nitrogen formula at once after repotting , hold off until you see new root crown or fresh folio emergence — clear preindication your plant is quick to exchange nutrients into development rather than burn delicate tissue . longanimity yield off ; otherwise , you take a chance undermining the very fresh start you offered by repotting !

Inadequate Acclimation to New Humidity Levels

When I affect my Boston fern ( Nephrolepis exaltata ) indoors with fresh dirt in other fall , I forgot that my home ’s humidity plummets once the bullet kicks in . These fern , aboriginal to moist forest floors across Central and South America , want high-pitched humidity to keep their delicate fronds crisp . alternatively , I left mine near the heater vent , expecting it to adjust . or else , the frond peak turned brownish within days , and powdery mould find a everlasting , moist shelter at the soil control surface . Those spores , normally hold on in check by the rain forest ’s stable humidity , flourished in my uneven home environment .

On the impudent side , placing a pothos that prosper in a horny bathroom into a wry living room immediately after repotting can shock its tropical tooth root . The sudden drop from near-100 % humidity to 30 - 40 % force the plant to conserve moisture — often by shed farewell . It ’s like carry a rainforest coinage into a desert without warn ! To avoid this , gradually acclimate humidity - loving plant by using a pebble tray or a small humidifier and moving them incrementally to less humid areas . This help roots adjust to changing wet levels without gasp for water or succumbing to mildew .

orchid being repotted