Are your beloved indoor plants starting to outgrow their current pots? Do they need a larger pot? Have you noticed signs of root-bound plants or perhaps your plant’s health is deteriorating due to poor drainage? It might be time for a repotting project! Repotting your large plant can give it a new lease on life, providing it with a fresh home and space to thrive.
However, it’s essential to do it the right way to ensure the health and vitality of your green companions. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the repotting process in 11 easy steps, covering everything from choosing the right container to handling the plant’s roots with care.
Step 1: Assess Your Plant’s Needs
Before diving into the repotting process, take a moment to assess your plant’s current condition. Root-bound plants need to be repotted. The main sign of a root-bound plant that you can see is roots poking out from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. You might see roots circling the bottom of the pot, if the plant is in a translucent pot.
Another indicator is observation of any decline in the plant’s health, which could indicate poor drainage or insufficient space for root growth. It could also indicate other things that are not related to the pot, such as insufficient light or overwatering.
Step 2: Choose the Right Time
The best time to repot indoor plants is typically in early spring when they are entering a period of active growth. However, I have successfully repotted plants throughout the year, if your plant is showing signs of distress, such as wilting or yellowing leaves, don’t hesitate to repot it regardless of the season.
I also regularly repot plants more than once in a year to encourage them to grow bigger, this is especially true of younger plants houseplants. When they come from the garden centre or shop, they should be left to acclimatize to their new home for a few weeks. Soon after that they are likely to need repotting as many garden centre plants show signs of being rootbound (have roots poking through the drainage holes). It is not uncommon for me to repot these plants a second time before the end of the growing season, as the young plants will outgrow their second new home quickly. Older plants tend to need repotting only every couple of years.
Step 3: Select a Suitable Container
Opt for a container with good drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging and root rot. Choose a new pot that is slightly larger than the current one to provide ample space for the plant’s roots to spread out. BUT don’t go too much bigger, it needs to be a bit bigger pot, but not a huge pot. The reason being that plants like to feel snug but not cramped. Potted plants will grow bigger more quickly by slowly increasing their pot size 2 or even 3 times in a season than by putting them straight into one huge pot. You can use a plastic pot, a terra cotta pot, or a ceramic pot, depending on your preference and budget.
Step 4: Prepare the New Home
Fill the bottom of the new container with fresh potting soil, ensuring that the soil level will allow the plant to sit at the same depth as it was in its old pot, usually the top of the pot. Throw the old soil into the compost bin.
For a very big plant you could measure the depth of the old pot, and imagine the base of the plant is sitting on the top of the soil. Is the distance from the soil level the same as the old pot? If so, then you probably have the right depth. It’s important to try and get this as right as possible before manipulating large plants, because they are so heavy. For a smaller plant you can always remove the root ball and adjust the base soil depth when doing the next steps, it’s just much harder with bigger plants.
I usually use my own homemade potting compost, but you can use fresh soil, garden soil or shop bought potting compost. It’s a good idea to add fresh material as this will contain valuable plant nutrients, and air spaces that will help the plant to grow well in it’s new home.
Step 5: Gently Remove the Plant from its Current Pot
Carefully slide the plant out of its old container, being mindful not to damage the roots. If the plant is stubbornly stuck, gently tap the sides of the pot or run a sharp knife around the edge to loosen it.
Step 6: Inspect the Root System
Take a close look at the plant’s roots, checking for any signs of root rot (foul smell, or mushy feeling roots) or overcrowding. Trim away any dead or rotting roots with a sharp, clean knife to promote healthy new growth.
Step 7: Loosen the Root Ball
Gently tease apart the roots at the edges of the root ball to encourage them to spread outwards once placed in the new container. This will help prevent the plant from becoming root-bound in its new home. I grab a handful of roots and slowly tease it apart. A few roots will get broken, you can hear them snapping, that’s ok, as long as you are doing this slowly and gently and the damage is only to a small number of roots, they will regrow quickly in the new soil.
Step 8: Place the Plant in the New Container
Position the plant in the center of the new pot, ensuring that it sits at the same depth as it did in its old pot. Fill in around the sides with fresh potting soil, pressing gently to eliminate any large air pockets.
Step 9: Water Thoroughly
Once the plant is securely planted in its new home, give it a thorough watering to help settle the soil and hydrate the roots. Allow any excess water to drain away before placing the pot in its desired location.
Step 10: Monitor and Maintain
Keep an eye on your newly repotted plant in the coming weeks, ensuring that it adjusts well to its new environment. Water as needed, being careful not to overwater, and provide appropriate light and temperature conditions for optimal growth.
Plants can suffer from something called transfer shock, this is when the plant has suffered damage to its roots during the transplant process. This often happens when plants are moved from a greenhouse to an outdoor location (i.e. change of climate). The affect can be discolouration of leaves, leaf loss and in serious cases death (although this tends to be for very young plants). If you think this has happened, just sit back and wait. Remember that plants just want to grow, it’s natural, most plants will sort themselves out by themselves in a couple of days.
Step 11: Enjoy Your Plant’s New Growth
With proper care and attention, your repotted plant will soon begin to flourish in its fresh surroundings. Enjoy watching it thrive and grow, knowing that you’ve provided it with the best possible start in its new home.
FAQ
Can a plant be too big to repot?
When plants get so big and heavy that they are hard to handle, firstly use two people and follow the repotting process. But if it’s still too big for you to manage, you can add a top dressing of new potting mix and water and fertilize to give the plant great care and accept that it will not grow much bigger. Just be caring towards your plant and maintain it in it’s pot for as long as you can.
When should you not repot a plant?
You should not repot immediately after bringing the plant home, it needs time to acclimatise.
Repotting your container plants doesn’t have to be daunting. With these simple steps and a little care, you can ensure the health and vitality of your favorite indoor plants for years to come. So roll up your sleeves, grab your gardening gloves, and give your green companions the new space they deserve!