This plant needs to repotted or turned upwards. Which one?

Louise
by Louise
I used to use the black pipe you see in this plant to hold it upright but now it won't hold it. I want to remove it from this planter, add soil and then put it back into the planter but sitting up straight. OR, I'll put it into a larger planter and sit it upright. Questions: 1. Does this need a larger pot. 2. How deeply can I put this into soil? See those things that look like heavy cords? Can they be covered by soil or do they have to be outside it? This current pot is always rather heavy. I'm afraid if I use a larger planter, I won't be able to move it. I'd like to repot it now but to do it well, I'd need to do it on the deck. Right now it's 55 degrees but all next week will be in the teens (in metro Atlanta). If I pull this to the deck and repot, would it hurt the plant if I do it in teen degree weather? The garage is on the lower level and moving this there to repot would be a real chore. SECONDARY question. Why can't I post two or more photos at one time? I have to post one and then the other. That's bothersome.
  9 answers
  • 27524803 27524803 on Jan 12, 2018

    The heavy cord things are actually roots... YES it will need a larger, deeper pot... There are pots available that are deeper and a lot taller (40 to 48 inches) but not larger around, get one that you can put a wooden tree stake into, and put the stake all the way to the bottom of the pot. If ceramic is too expensive... use a large galvanized trash can... put drain holes in the bottom and use a BIG saucer.

  • Heather Newsom Heather Newsom on Jan 12, 2018

    I don't know how deep of soil but it does look like you need a slightly bigger pot. Ithe may need more nutrients too. You can use a low caster wheel pot stand to move it around. They have cheap wooden ones at any home store. I would temporarily retrain your plant to grow up right by tying 3 piece's of stakes at the top like a tent for support. Once it is growing properly you should be able to remove them.

  • Pat Pat on Jan 12, 2018

    Heather had the right idea....get a low wheeled plant stand and put your bigger pot on it..then you can move it around without lifting it. Then transplant the plant in the new bigger planter, burying it at least three inches deeper than you have now....I believe the "heavy cords" are roots that cling to trees when these plants are growing in the tropics...but can't tell. As far as the temperature for being outside and repotting your plant, 55 degrees is probably all right but don't leave the plant outside after it is repotted....needs to be in its "usual" spot to do well. I have put an old sheet and newspapers on the floor inside the house and repotted my plants right there....makes a mess but easily cleaned up when done. I think like Heather said, you may have to stake your repotted plant up for support and then when growing and settled, you may be able to take the supports away. I am sure when you take your plant out of the pot, you will find it rootbound.

  • Gale Allen Jenness Gale Allen Jenness on Jan 12, 2018

    We had the same plant, never had any luck keeping it standing up no matter what we did with it. I guess it’s just one of those plants you let go where they want? We got rid of ours for that reason. Good luck finding a good way to keep it standing


    • See 1 previous
    • Gale Allen Jenness Gale Allen Jenness on Jan 16, 2018

      Do you turn your plants at all? by turning your plants 90-180 degrees it will help your plants grow straight rather then reaching for the light on one side if never turned. That may help just by turning them and letting them get light to the other side for a while?

  • Goo32244970 Goo32244970 on Jan 12, 2018

    I planted mine in the ground...

    • Louise Louise on Jan 12, 2018

      We have temps in the low teens sometime and even in single digits. It would die.


  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jan 12, 2018

    All of the stems seem to be going in the same direction. Perhaps it is leaning towards more sunlight? You should use stouter stakes to hold it upright, but do it in increments if it is not wanting to go straight right away. You definitely need a bigger pot. If you go the way suggested and get a pot stand, don't get the ones that have the all plastic casters, they don't hold as much weight as they say they do and will break apart and need to be replaced. they may be more expensive, but the better ones are worth the extra in durability and ease of use. We have started making our own with some left over thick marine plywood and good casters. It makes it so much easier to care for plants when you need to move them at all for any reason, inside or outside.

  • Louise Louise on Jan 12, 2018

    Thanks for all the ideas. It never occurred to me to get a wheeled plant stand. I'll look into that. That would at least enable me to easily move it from the deck in the summer to inside in the winter.


  • Jen Hufnal Jen Hufnal on Jan 15, 2018

    I have this exact plant and I too

    put mine outside in the summer and bring it in in the winter. My pot was as big as yours last summer but I found a larger one at Target at the end of summer for $10 and repoted it. It seemed to like it. But there's no rush in your case- it looks healthy. The roots look healthy too-I have the same with my plant . I'd say just put it closer to your light source- it's stretching toward the light. Give it plant food and make sure it stays well watered- I wTer mine 2x a week. Also I'd try turning the pot away from the light in that spot- it might correct itself to reach again for the light in the other direction hence standing up again. Good luck. I love mine- it's huge!!


  • Frances P Johnson Frances P Johnson on Jan 15, 2018

    This plant can be taken out of the pot, cut roots in the soil about 1/2 way back. Replant in fresh soil. They don't require all the roots because they have air roots. Putting on a wheeled caddy will help keep it growing straight, because you can turn it to capture the sun on every side. Beautiful !