Giving Them Room: Repotting and Dividing Herbs
The Need for Space!
Plants grown in pots eventually exhaust their available space and nutrients. They become choked by their own root systems, which prevents them from absorbing water and nutrients efficiently. This leads to stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and reduced flavor. The solution is simple: periodically refreshing their environment either by moving them to a bigger pot (repotting) or by splitting the plant into smaller, healthier pieces (dividing).
Repotting: Moving Up to a Bigger Home
Repotting is the easiest way to solve the rootbound problem for most herbs.
When and How to Repot:
Knowing when your herb needs a bigger home is the first step:
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Roots Growing Out: The most obvious sign is roots spiraling out of the drainage holes.
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Water Runs Through: If water immediately runs straight through the soil and out the bottom after watering, the root mass is so dense it's preventing the soil from retaining moisture.
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Stunted Growth: The plant stops growing or looks generally unhealthy despite adequate care.
Timing: Spring, right before the start of the main growing season, is the ideal time to repot, as the plant is ready to put energy into new growth.
The Process:
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Size Up Slightly: Choose a pot that is only 1–2 inches wider in diameter than the current one. Moving to a container that is too large can hold excessive amounts of wet soil, increasing the risk of root rot.
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Loosen the Roots: Once you remove the plant, you will see a dense, circling rootball. Use your fingers or a small fork to gently loosen and untangle those roots, encouraging them to grow outwards into the new soil.
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Use Fresh Soil: Always use new, well-draining potting mix. The old soil is compacted and depleted of its nutrients, so never reuse the old soil from the same plant.
Dividing: Managing Aggressive and Old Herbs
Division is a maintenance technique essential for certain perennial herbs that grow in clumps or spread aggressively.
Why Division is Essential:
Division solves two key problems in the herb garden:
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Rejuvenation: Perennial herbs like chives, oregano, and particularly mint, often grow in dense clumps. As they age, the centers of these clumps can become woody, unproductive, and exhausted. Dividing them renews their vigor.
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Containment: For aggressive runners (we're looking at you, Mint!), division is the only way to manage their spread and keep your other plants safe from invasion.
Timing: The best time to divide these clumps is either in early spring as new growth is just beginning or in early fall, giving the new sections time to establish roots before winter dormancy.
The Process of Division:
The process is surprisingly straightforward and yields free, healthy new plants!
Instruction: Gently remove the entire plant from its container or the ground. Use a sharp, clean knife, a trowel, or a spade to physically cut the rootball into several sections, ensuring each new section has a portion of both the roots and the top growth.
Selection: When dividing older clumps, especially chives, you should discard the old, woody, unproductive center section of the plant. Replant only the younger, healthier sections found along the outer edges of the clump.
Result: Each healthy section you replant is effectively a new plant, which you can use to expand your garden, fill another pot, or share with friends.
Post-Repotting and Dividing Care
Post-op care is crucial for ensuring your herb recovers from the stress of being moved or cut.
Watering: Water thoroughly immediately after repotting or dividing. This step is necessary to settle the new soil around the roots and eliminate any air pockets that could dry out the sensitive root tips.
Pruning: Always prune back the top growth of the herb (up to 1/3) after repotting or dividing. This reduces stress on the plant by balancing the leaf mass (which loses water) with the newly disturbed or reduced root mass. It helps the roots focus their energy on establishing themselves in the fresh soil.
Give them Space!
Repotting and dividing are not complicated tasks, but they are absolutely essential maintenance steps that guarantee your container herbs stay productive, vibrant, and perfectly contained. By giving them the fresh space they need, you avoid the issues of being rootbound or overgrown, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh flavor.
Go check your perennial pots right now! Are the roots showing yet?