Many people have this debate annually - can you re pot in Winter, and if not, why? How soon should you do it when you bring a new plant home?
There are many schools of thought on the matter, however, many studies have shown that while it is not ultimately detrimental to your plants, there are a few very good reasons why you should hold out until it's a tad warmer out there before giving your new mate some new soil.
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Winter isn't the same all over Australia! Some of us live in the beautiful, sunny but briskly cold and unpredictable Melbourne, whilst we aren't the only State Australia has to offer. Queensland and many parts of Western Australia are still 7 billion degrees all year round. When recommending people do or do not replant their plants in Winter is entirely dependant on where they are - and what temps they're dealing with.
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Juvenile plants are not as hardy as the old boys. Younger plants have probably spent their entire short lives in the same pot, and same potting medium as you got them in, whereas the bigger, more established plants have likely been sized up a few times. Remember that the larger the root system, the hardier it is and you don't want to disrupt the delicate little system if you don't *have* to.
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People believe they need to re-pot as soon as they get new plants home. Many nurseries sell their plants in a medium that can last for quite some time, and some just use peat so that it retains moisture in transit. If you bring a new plant into a new environment, it is highly recommended you allow it to acclimate to its new surroundings, as to not overwhelm it.
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Heat mats and greenhouses are a Godsend! If re potting because you simply MUST and the roots are popping out the bottom and going for a walk, then keep the plants warm. Re potting disrupts roots, and if they break during the planting process then it is harder for them to recover if they are too chilly.
So there you have it. While you CAN, it is entirely up to you what you do. We re pot when needed, but use mats and hot houses to ensure a consistent temp.
Plants have been re potted for many years during many seasons, and some survive and some don't. Using fertilisers such as We The Wild 'Grow' which contains live bacteria's, you can fertilise your best mates all year round and promote constant growth, even in winter when dormancy is common amongst many perennials such as the fickle Alocasia.
SO get out there and re-pot those babies!
K