The Pros and Cons of Winter Repotting for Houseplants: Is It Right for You?

With it being so cold in the UK these past few weeks something has been playing on my mind. Should i repot my big Tree Philodendron? (Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum).

Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, Common name Tree Philodendron

With such vigorous growth and beautiful large leaves the Tree Philodendron has an amazing tendency to not only take over a room if left to its own devices but also become utterly pot bound.

Normally growing to huge sizes in the jungles of South America, (namely Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay), the plant can grow large aerial roots which reach down into the soil in search of water, or more commonly onto other neighbouring plants and trees allowing it to grow up them and climb. In a houseplant scenario most of the aerial roots reach down into the pot only adding to the pot bound conundrum. Without the proper repotting routine every few years it can start to have trouble absorbing water and nutrients. Poor soil and root environments can lead to all sorts of issues too, root rot, yellowing leaves, stunted growth, stress and being open to infection.

The beautiful specimens in the Barbican Conservatory

This is where mine is right now. Yellowing leaves, browning tips, roots coming out the bottom of the pot, poor compacted soil, possibly root rot? who knows at this stage.

All the signs cry out for a repotting. But should i do it?

Put quite simply, the answer is no.

With temperatures dropping in the last few weeks and lots of people choosing to keep their heating to a minimum in their homes, some plants go into dormancy and may not recover from such drastic interference as a full repotting, root prune, potential root wash and new soil to get stuck into, its a lot to bounce back from when your systems aren’t running at full steam.

We must remember that most houseplants are naturally temperate rainforest inhabitants.

Houseplants commonly exist in a forced, dry, cold, draughty, often low light environments in our homes in the UK and whilst they may survive in these conditions, do they thrive? I know full well that in the case of my houseplant journey there has been a LOT of trial and error (emphasis on the error).

Aerials roots shown here reaching down into the pot.

So what’s the answer? Proper care and trying to recreate the circumstances these plants come from. No, a plant in the wild is rarely repotted, or grows in a pot at all, but in order to be successful as a houseplant owner you have to take the nature and growth habits of our botanical captives into consideration, Only repotting when necessary and only performing an emergency repot if absolutley needed, which in my case just isnt essential right now.

Meaning waiting till the weather starts to warm up in spring and the plant can start properly metabolising again. I guess I’ll just have to keep watching those yellow leaves till then!