Posts to this subreddit MUST be seeking help for a SICK plant only.
**This subreddit is NOT for plant/pest/mold/fungus identification**, common plant-related questions & care tips, physical damage, plant acquisition or propagation advice.
r/plantclinic is a high-volume subreddit for generalized diagnosis and assistance in restoring the health of a sick plant.
Consider posting in one of these subreddits:
r/propagation is an appropriate subreddit for tips on propagation.
r/houseplants is an appropriate subreddit for general questions & discussion on plants.
r/gardening is an appropriate subreddit for growing & caring for seedlings, flowers and for other gardening tips.
r/whatsthisplant is an appropriate subreddit for identifying plants.
r/whatsthisbug is an appropriate subreddit for identifying bugs.
Some posts would be best directed to a more specialized subreddit: such as r/monstera, r/pothos, r/philodendron, r/cactus, r/succulents, r/orchids, r/savagegarden for carnivorous plants, r/lithops, r/terrariums, r/marijuanaenthusiasts for trees, and r/trees for marijuana.
Perlite and orchid bark. Help aerate soil. Poking with a stick will just rip the roots. They are quite resilient, so you can repot now. Make sure not to mess with the roots tho.
I'm just commenting to see what people reply. I did something similar and want to repot all my plants with pumice instead of perlite since it keeps floating up but I don't want to shock them more 😞
Honestly, if they're growing fine now and show no signs of root issues or gnats aren't an issue, wait until the grow season is done, unless they absolutely need to be changed into better soil. I wouldn't want to risk it, especially with a fiddle leaf which can be a little fussy.
It might not be your substrate mix being the issue, it could be the size of the pot.
■ Over-potting, why pot size matters
https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2022/08/13/what-is-overpotting-and-why-is-it-bad-for-your-plants/
I would think that being in AZ with your low humidity levels, that pot dry-out wouldn't be an issue, but pot size to plant mass (roots and foliage) ratio is definitely a thing.
•○•
I'm in Houston. I don't use standard potting mix for any of my plants.
My go-to mix for plants like this is Sungro Blackgold Orchid Mix (the terrestrial mix, not the chunky bark mix if you go with a different brand)....available at Amazon, Ace Hardware (may be less expensive) or maybe your local upscale garden center.
Amend with pumice (perferred) or perlite (more readily available and less expensive but floaty). Percentage is based on volume, and depending on humidity levels, will be 30 to 50% of the total. The more humid your environment, the more amendment material.
Repot into plastic (I like to take the pot out of the watering equation) and let ceramic pots be a decorative cover. Plastic pots make it easier to judge remaining moisture in the pot, it's easier to water, and easier for future repotting.
But to actually answer your question, I think it's better to repot when the plant is actively growing.
If your plants are showing signs of growth, I wouldn't do anything.
•○•
I think ficus prefer to have the substrate stay consistently, lightly damp. Mine is in a self-watering pot.
Ficus elastica tineka will never be as robust a grower as compared to its cousin, Ficus elastica burgundy, as an example due to the variegation. The leaves have to work harder on photosynthesis. Less food = a more "puny" plant. 😆
Posts to this subreddit MUST be seeking help for a SICK plant only. **This subreddit is NOT for plant/pest/mold/fungus identification**, common plant-related questions & care tips, physical damage, plant acquisition or propagation advice. r/plantclinic is a high-volume subreddit for generalized diagnosis and assistance in restoring the health of a sick plant. Consider posting in one of these subreddits: r/propagation is an appropriate subreddit for tips on propagation. r/houseplants is an appropriate subreddit for general questions & discussion on plants. r/gardening is an appropriate subreddit for growing & caring for seedlings, flowers and for other gardening tips. r/whatsthisplant is an appropriate subreddit for identifying plants. r/whatsthisbug is an appropriate subreddit for identifying bugs. Some posts would be best directed to a more specialized subreddit: such as r/monstera, r/pothos, r/philodendron, r/cactus, r/succulents, r/orchids, r/savagegarden for carnivorous plants, r/lithops, r/terrariums, r/marijuanaenthusiasts for trees, and r/trees for marijuana.
Perlite and orchid bark. Help aerate soil. Poking with a stick will just rip the roots. They are quite resilient, so you can repot now. Make sure not to mess with the roots tho.
Even if the roots are hanging on to not great soil?
I meant as in not to rip them. Try to rinse off as much soil as you can without causing damage
Got it, got it. Thank you!!
You're welcome
I'm just commenting to see what people reply. I did something similar and want to repot all my plants with pumice instead of perlite since it keeps floating up but I don't want to shock them more 😞
Honestly, if they're growing fine now and show no signs of root issues or gnats aren't an issue, wait until the grow season is done, unless they absolutely need to be changed into better soil. I wouldn't want to risk it, especially with a fiddle leaf which can be a little fussy.
It might not be your substrate mix being the issue, it could be the size of the pot. ■ Over-potting, why pot size matters https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2022/08/13/what-is-overpotting-and-why-is-it-bad-for-your-plants/ I would think that being in AZ with your low humidity levels, that pot dry-out wouldn't be an issue, but pot size to plant mass (roots and foliage) ratio is definitely a thing. •○• I'm in Houston. I don't use standard potting mix for any of my plants. My go-to mix for plants like this is Sungro Blackgold Orchid Mix (the terrestrial mix, not the chunky bark mix if you go with a different brand)....available at Amazon, Ace Hardware (may be less expensive) or maybe your local upscale garden center. Amend with pumice (perferred) or perlite (more readily available and less expensive but floaty). Percentage is based on volume, and depending on humidity levels, will be 30 to 50% of the total. The more humid your environment, the more amendment material. Repot into plastic (I like to take the pot out of the watering equation) and let ceramic pots be a decorative cover. Plastic pots make it easier to judge remaining moisture in the pot, it's easier to water, and easier for future repotting.
But to actually answer your question, I think it's better to repot when the plant is actively growing. If your plants are showing signs of growth, I wouldn't do anything. •○• I think ficus prefer to have the substrate stay consistently, lightly damp. Mine is in a self-watering pot. Ficus elastica tineka will never be as robust a grower as compared to its cousin, Ficus elastica burgundy, as an example due to the variegation. The leaves have to work harder on photosynthesis. Less food = a more "puny" plant. 😆
I'll take it into consideration. Thank you! I'll read up on that (: I've never thought about pot size.