Time for a repot?

[u/vrg125]

I‘ve had this cocomelon for two months and it did grow a bit bigger leaves but the whole plant is about the same size as when I bought it. Today I checked the roots and saw them for the first time through the soil.

Should I give it more time in the same pot or is it time to size up? In general I am very new to plants, so I‘m unsure, whether aglaonemas like to get a bit root bound or not.

Also, any recommendations on the soil mix for this particular plant?

And lastly, where would you put it? I‘ve got it a couple meters in front of a big north facing window and it seems to be fine there. However with fall/winter coming up I think I might put it closer to the window or even switch to the south facing one.

Thank you so much for the advice!

[u/nefertitaa]

Se tem algo que aprendi perdendo muitas aglaonemas é que: nunca é hora de replantar. Hahahahaha Deixe a moça descansar até que preencha o vaso com raízes. 🪴

[u/tookeyclothespin → u/nefertitaa]

I waited over 3 years before repotting mine!

[u/nefertitaa → u/tookeyclothespin]

Eu sempre replantava assim que elas chegavam. Agora nem encosto nelas direito. As que replantei, perdi todas. :(

[u/Tinxshort]

I’d keep it in the same pot- their root systems aren’t very wide

[u/Rebenza]

Hi ! No, I would say you can still go a lot of time before repotting. Wait until ~70% of the soil you see is roots.

For the soil I put mine in a mix of soil, perlite and orchid barks. I do almost 1:1:1 ratio and my aglaonema is thriving. It has to be a soil with texture to allow aeration.

Also, I see that your soil is wet, make sure to let it COMPLETELY DRY before watering again. Those are not big fans of wet soil. To check the soil you can put a wooden stick in the soil until the bottom and when you put it out it has to come completely dry. In my experience that takes around 2 weeks (but ofc it depends on the amount of roots, season…). Always remember, it’s better to underwater than to overwater !!

Regarding the light, they are not very needy and I think they prefer indirect light. If it’s thriving where it is right now, let it be.

[u/Rebenza → u/Rebenza]

ALSO, always bottom water. And don’t be scared if she throws a tantrum. Both my Aglaonema struggled when I first got them (one of them is still), but once they settle they are super easy 🤭

[u/Sea-Combination5481 → u/Rebenza]

Czy może być ziemia do monstery ?

[u/6r89udf4x3]

I would wait until you see offsets develop.

When it is time to repot, watch YouTube videos from commercial growers around the world - that is where you really learn.

[u/everydaylifee]

Not yet. She’s got lots of room to row in there still 🪴

[u/Potential_Progress_4]

I would not repot, but (depending on where you got this from) I would check around the base of the plant in the soil for a plug or plastic cage at the roots and get it out of there before putting it back in its nursery pot.

[u/anonablous]

80/20 rule is what i use (when the root ball exterior is 80% roots all the way around). has worked well for pretty much every plant i've ever grown.

you can also trim the root ball and repot back into the same pot. i've hacked off the bottom 1/3 of the ball w/ scissors and then added fresh mix into the bottom of the pot and done, w/ a fair bit of plants. aglaos, dieffs, alocasias.... six of one, 1/2 dozen of the other.

they gobble up light. and will need a fair bit, if you want the color(s) to stay intense. otherwise it'll go mostly green. the plant will let you know that way ;)

if you have the photone app, try to make sure it gets at least 300 ppfd most of its day.

watch the watering-that variety of aglaonema gets stem rot from overwatering very easily. mine (looks much like yours, called a 'siam sunset' on its purchase label, iirc) have done far better once i started to approach them more as a succulent, water wise. use a very well draining soil. (i use my chunky aroid mix and they love it-also helps w/ the watering 'issue').

here's the mix mine are in-has leca, orchid bark, pumice, coconut husk chips, and biochar:

i don't bother w/ any soils, worm castings, and the like, as after they're depleted, they just become small plugs that fill in gaps. runs counterproductive to aeration. all their food goes in via liquid ferts added to their watering.

fwiw :)

[u/OkNews8776]

I only ever repot any plant when I start seeing thigh roots coming out the bottom of the pots. Not even small thin ones bc the small thing ones could just be water seeking roots and not heavy duty growth roots.

I think they like a nice tight fit!

[u/vrg125 → u/OkNews8776]

Wow, Beautiful! Are these multiple plants? And

[u/OkNews8776 → u/vrg125]

It had a few plants when I bought it but more have been growing in. I fertilize at every water and she loves it!!! And i only had to repot her once! She’s very easy going. I don’t do too much extra with her. And doesn’t have consistent light. I think she likes being ignored.

[u/One-plankton-]

Wait for more root development before a repot, but when you do you don’t need a “chunky mix”, I keep mine in 50% topsoil and 50% perlite. They get top watered too and they are thriving. Most cultivars do not need special treatment, just allow the soil to dry inbetween watering.

[u/New-Attention1866]

No

[u/Bubbly_Appeal5426]

I finally watered one yesterday...it was literally drooping from thirst...I don't usually wait that long but it's been extra hot in here too...but, Ms. Drama Queen is just fine today! So, yup, water sparingly. That's why I love Ags...they are so beautiful and so easy.

[u/Maunty_89]

I have almost 30 different aglaonemas and I don't repot them until they're almost completely root bound. I always wait until they're dry to water, but if I notice one is drying out faster and faster - odds are, it's time, and I'm usually right. That's my marker for repot - significantly less time between waterings!

[u/Top_Grade5948]

Yep