How To Repot Houseplants

Updated June 18, 2022 by admin

When it comes to plant care, repotting is one of the things that must be done. After all, plants grow- eventually outgrowing the pot they are in. However, not everyone knows how to do this.

If you are asking the question: how do I repot houseplants? You have come to the right place! Simply choose a pot, remove the plant from the old pot, place in the new pot, and add water. Of course, there’s more to it, but we’ll get into that later in this article.

How Do I Know My Plant Should Be Repotted?

As we said, if you have houseplants, you’ll need to repot them at some point. So, how do you know it’s time to repot? There are several indications:

1. The drainage hole has roots coming out of it.
2. There’s no soil on the surface, just a layer of roots.
3. There doesn’t seem to be much soil and the root ball is all one piece when you take the plant out of its pot.
4. The plant is no longer proportionate to its container.
5. Plant growth has slowed or the plant is deteriorating.
6. Soil dries out quickly, no matter how often you water.
7. You’re not sure when the last time was that you did it.

What Season Should Houseplants Be Repotted?

If the plant is not actively growing and developing, it is probably not the best time to repot your plant, according to some experts. Of course, if you have no other option, it can be done during the off season. However, if you notice during the winter that a plant needs to be repotted, try to wait until spring or summer when it starts growing again to do it. Some experts will tell you that the plant will die if transplanted during the off-season, but that’s not always the case.

How Do I Repot My Houseplants?

In this section, we will explain the process of repotting your houseplants. This is not a complicated process at all. In fact, anyone can do it!

Choosing Your New Pot

The very first step in this process is to choose your new planter/pot for your plant. There are so many options, including terra cotta, plastic, glass, and more. The best way to choose a pot is to figure out the requirements of your plant. For example, if you have a plant that loves water, terra cotta is not the best option. If you have a plant that prefers to be dry, then plastic is definitely not going to be the best option.

Remove Plants From Old Pots

Once you have chosen your new planter, it’s time to remove the plants from the planter they are currently in. This must be done carefully.

Start by gently pulling upwards on the plant. There are several variables that come into play, but ideally, it should slip right out. However, if it does not, you can take a knife and slide it around the inside of the pot to try to loosen it.

On the other hand, if there are lots of roots growing out of the drainage hole, it may be best to simply chop them off and pull the plant out of the container. As long as the plant is pretty healthy, you don’t have to worry about killing it by chopping off a few of the roots.

Place Plant In New Planter/Pot

The next thing you need to do is place a piece of a broken clay pot or a mesh screen to cover the drain hole. Whatever you use will keep the dirt from falling out of the bottom of the pot when you are watering the plant. After covering the drainage hole, place a small amount of dirt in the pot. Finally, place the plant in the new pot and cover it with additional soil.

Keep in mind that you must plant it at approximately the same depth it was before and keep the soil like slightly below the edge of the pot. This way, the soil won’t wash away off the top when you water the plant.

Water Your Plant

The final step in this process is to water the plant. Some people choose to water on a regular basis, only providing a small amount of water. However, according to some experts, the best way is to soak the plant and then let it dry out some before watering again.

When Should You Fertilize Your Newly Repotted Plant?

Most soil mixes or compost that you will use to repot your plants already has fertilizer mixed in. Therefore, you need to wait about 6 weeks before fertilizing your newly repotted plants. If you add more fertilizer to what is probably already there, you could end up burning any new root growth and thus, killing your plant.

Bottom Line

Repotting plants doesn’t have to be done very often and it’s a pretty easy process. If you can follow these directions, you can repot any plant you want to. Pay attention to your plants. If you see that they are outgrowing their current pot, it’s time for them to move into a new one. You’ll be glad you did!