When to repot a nerve plant | 5 Key Signs

The best time of year to repot your nerve plant is in spring and fall. The weather is mild and it will be able to settle in and grow new roots. The top 5 ways to know that your nerve plant is ready for repotting is when the pot feels firm and full of roots, if you see roots growing out the bottom of the pot, or if you see signs of distress like drooping leaves.

This article will explore all you need to know about when it is time to repot a nerve plant and 5 easy signs to look for.

The best seasons to repot a nerve plant

Spring and Fall

The best seasons to repot a nerve plant are spring and fall. Spring weather is mild, warm and will give ethe nerve plant a chance to settle in and grow new roots before the warm weather hits. Spring is a time that nerve plants will grow rapidly so repot them to give them room to grow.

Fall is also a great time to repot nerve plants. Fall will still have mild weather which will give the plant a chance to settle in before its semi-dormant period over winter. Nerve plants slow their growth when the weather cools, so give them at least 2 months to settle into their new pot before winter.

Why repot a nerve plant in spring and fall

Nerve plants will grow best if repotted in spring and fall for these 3 reasons.

  1. The weather is mild
  2. The weather is warm
  3. New growth will appear rapidly

Top 5 signs that your nerve plant needs repotting

Here are the top 5 signs that your nerve plant needs repotting and what you can look out for.

1. Firm pot

Feel the base of the pot and if it feels firm when you squeeze this is a good sign that it is full of roots. When the plant has filled the soil with roots it can run out of air, water and nutrients and will benefit from repotting.

Squeeze the pot to see if it feels firm and needs repotting.

2. Roots growing out the bottom

Another sign that nerve plants need repotting is if you see roots growing out the bottom of the pot. This will mean that the roots have run out of room and will benefit from more space in a new pot. Trim off any long roots escaping out of the bottom of the pot and choose a pot one size bigger to give it more room.

3. Plant spilling over the plant

Another sign that nerve plants are ready to be repotted is if they are spilling over the side of the pot. The plant will spread and grow over the surface of the soil and when it reaches the edges it is a sign that the plant needs more room and a new pot.

4. After 2-3 years

After around 2-3 years your nerve plant will be ready for a new pot and some fresh soil. Even if the plant is still fitting in its original pot it will still benefit from fresh soil when you repot it. Most potting soil becomes hydrophobic after 2-3 years and will often compact dropping the soil level.

Repot the nerve plant with fresh soil in a pot that is one size larger. You can even split the nerve plant into 2-3 pieces and repot each one into a new pot with fresh soil.

5. Signs of distress

Another sign that your nerve plant can benefit from repotting is when the plant shows signs of distress. Drooping, curling and dry leaves or brown and yellow leaves are a sign of distress. A new pot and fresh soil will add back nutrients, feed the plant and help to give the roots more room and air to grow.

Top tips for successful repotting

Here are my top tips to successfully repot your nerve plant at home for rapid growth and a healthy plant.

1. Soil choice

Choose the best quality potting soil you can afford. An all-purpose premium soil will contain organic matter and slow release fertilizer to feed your plant for around 3 months. This will give the roots the air and nutrients they need as well as holding water to keep the plant moist.

2. Choosing a pot size

Choose a pot that is 1 inch wider and deeper than the original pot that the nerve plant was growing in. This is the perfect size increase as it will give the plant more room while not adding too much soil which can get cold, wet and soggy.

For larger nerve plants greater than 5 inches across you can split the plant and repot them into 2 new pots with fresh soil. You can easily get 2-3 plants out of your nerve plant if you repot them regularly.

3. Regular water

Regular water is key to a healthy nerve plant after it has been repotted. Nerve plants love moist soil and this is particularly important for a newly repotted plant. They will grow new roots when they are moved into new potting soil and regular water is key to their quick recovery from the move.

4. Use a plastic pot with drainage

When repotting nerve plants even for indoors I always like to use an outdoor plastic pot with drainage holes. I then like to put them inside a nice looking outer pot without drainage holes so I can shift them as they get bigger and reuse the outer pot.

This also helps the plant to drain a well and I can empty any excess water out that ends up in the bottom of the outer pot.

Use an inner plastic pot with drainage holes inside an outer pot without drainage to catch the drips.

5. Choose a good looking outer pot

The final step for successfully repotting your nerve plant is to choose an outer pot that matches the leaves. For my red flame nerve plant I have chosen a black pot that brings out the color of the plant. For white or green nerve plants try a white or gray pot for a modern look.

When to repot a nerve plant | Summary

Repot your nerve plant in spring or fall when the weather is mild. Choose a pot that is 1 inch wider and deeper than the original, use a good quality potting soil and water the plant regularly. Repot your plant if you see roots escaping from the drainage holes, if it is spilling excessively over the sides or if it has been 2 years since the last repotting.

Nerve plants will recover quickly if they are watered well and moved to a position that gets filtered light.

Happy growing.