What is the Best & Safest way to repot big tropical plants?

Question

I’m helping to try to save some tropical plants at my local pool. They were watered over the past 2 months by folks who didn’t know anything about watering plants. Repotting is the only option left. My biggest concern is a HUGE ZZ plant, planted in a pot with NO self-watering reservoir. Do I destroy the home pot by cutting it up or have multiple folks to help loosen it and lift it out? Also, do I prepare the new soil with water and food prior to adding the plant to it’s new home?

Answer 1

You will want to plant into a rich potting soil. There will be no need to mix extra nutrients, as transplanting will be quite hard on the plant. This means that it will not take up nutrients for a short while after transplant. If there is too much nutrients in the soil at this time, then you risk burning new roots and killing off the plants.

Your best option is a container only a few inches bigger on each side, and nothing too much bigger. This will make the problem worse. If you wish to put them back into the same container, then make sure to treat for infection with a fungicide prior to replanting.

This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm

You will have to have multiple people help lift and pull in order to save the container.

This article will help you to repot a large plant: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/repotting-a-large-plant.htm