GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY! How to repot your ferns
We've said it before and we'll say it again. REPOT YOUR PLANTS!
Just like us, plants need food, nutrition and space to grow, and repotting is one of the best possible things you can do to meet all of these needs.
Spring is the perfect time of year to start thinking about repotting. At this time, your plants will be starting to wake up from their winter slumber and ready to get growing again. By repotting now, there is less risk of sending the plant into shock as it'll be thirsty for fresh nutrients, and nothing will go to waste, as it will have all season to soak it in.
So why you might want to repot? The obvious reason is if you've got a young plant that's grown lots, you might want to give it something bigger so it can continue growing. Being pot bound won't harm your plant, but it certainly won't do it any favours either. We recommend doing this yearly for younger plants, going up a few cm in pot size at a time.
But even if you're not looking to size up your plant pot, a yearly soil refresh for younger plants, and every other year for more established ones will do no end of good for your green gang. Repotting is also a great way to try and fix any persistent health issues your plant has. Root rot, fungus gnats and other soil borne pests can be fixed with a thorough repotting.
More than just providing a nice soft snuggly place to rest their feet, soil helps feed your plants and provides vital nutrition. Soil structure is really important to your plant's growth too, and each plant has different needs when it comes to this. So, if you want to give your plant the VIP treatment and help them grow as well as they possibly can, you've got to go back to their roots, and that's where Soil.Ninja comes in!
We started stocking their brilliant soil mixes as we know how important repotting properly is for plant growth, and they really take the faff out of it. Each premium mix is tailored to your favourite plants needs, ready to use, sustainably sourced and come in genuinely conveniently sized packs. They also don't cost the earth. What's not to love!
As the longer days roll in and we start repotting in earnest we are going to take a look at each of Soil.Ninja's mixes, what plants they're best for and the question we always get asked - exactly how do you repot them?! First up - ferns!
Ferns can be a fussy bunch, so using a well blended soil will really help you out. You get lots of varieties of ferns but they are unified in having lots of fine, fast growing roots that love a good drink. Soil.Ninja's fern mix has been specially formulated to provide a high moisture retention without being claggy, meaning those roots can grow away happily.
When repotting, get your new pot ready with a layer of clay pebbles and a layer of fern soil. ease out of the existing pots. Remember fern root systems are quite delicate, so be gentle at this stage. You won't need to tease out the roots too much on a fern, they'll grow into new soil quite happily on their own accord. Pop the plant in the new pot, then backfill any gaps around the edge of the pot with more fern soil. Give it a good water and job's a goodun.
If you've got a very big plant, you can divide it by removing it from the pot then using a sharp, clean knife to cut into the root mass, dividing it into 2 or 3 sections. Repot and keep the soil moist whilst it re-establishes itself.
Soil Ninja's Fern mix is also great for English ivy and works wonderfully for tender herbs and for seedlings.
Not sure what soil is right for your plants? Check out Soil Ninja's amazing plant index to find out!