How To Repot Your Houseplant
- nitasnaturalssbe
- Sep 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Potting or repotting your houseplants can be straightforward with a few easy tips and techniques. Whether you're changing your decor or your plant has outgrown its current pot, proper potting is essential for your plant's health.
Let's explore what you need to know before repotting:
Repotting doesn't necessarily involve changing a plant's current container, but rather, replacing its soil or potting mix. New soil provides fresh nutrients. This is good news if you love your existing planter, but it's also fine if you want to buy a new one.
If you're switching planters, try to limit the size increase to no more than 2" in diameter for tabletop planters, and no more than 4" in diameter for floor planters. For a very small plant, the new planter might only need to be an inch larger!
Size is crucial because when we move our plants to a larger pot with more soil, we're often tempted to water more frequently. A small plant in an oversized planter with lots of soil and lots of water amounts to unintentionally harming the plant with too much care. You want your plant to have a little extra space to grow into over the coming year, not be overwhelmed by soil.
Generally speaking plants require repotting every 12 to 18 months, depending on their growth rate. Some slow-growing plants, like snake plants or aglaonemas, can remain in the same pot for several years, although they will need fresh soil. The ideal time to repot your houseplants is typically in spring, just before the growth season begins.
However, if at any moment you observe any of these signs or a combination thereof, you'll recognize it's time to repot:
Roots are growing through the drainage hole at the bottom of the planter
Roots are pushing the plant up, out of the planter
Plant is growing slower than normal (different than winter dormancy)
Plant is extremely top heavy, and falls over easily
Plant dries out more quickly than usual, requiring more frequent waterings
Aboveground parts of plant take up more than three times the pot space
Noticeable salt and mineral build up on the plant or planter
Make sure to have the following items ready:
Your new houseplant or existing houseplant
The planter you're potting into
Fresh potting mix
Leca clay balls or similar (if your planter does not have a drainage hole)
Potting mat to keep your workspace tidy
Steps to Repot:
Remove the plant from its existing pot Place your new plant on its side, gently hold the stems or leaves, and tap the bottom of its current pot until the plant releases. You might need to help it along with a few gentle tugs at the base of the stems.
Loosen the roots Gently loosen the plant's roots using your hands. You may trim any overly long, threadlike roots, but make sure to retain the thicker roots close to the base of the foliage. If your plant is root bound, with roots tightly wrapped around the base, attempt to untangle them as much as possible and give them a trim.
Remove old potting mix Extract about one-third or more of the potting mix surrounding the plant. As the plant has grown, it has used up some of the nutrients in the current mix, so adding fresh mix is advantageous if you're repotting it anyway!
Add new potting mix Begin by placing a layer of fresh potting soil in the new planter . Gently tap it on a flat surface it down to remove any air pockets. If the new planter does not have a drainage hole, start by lining the bottom with leca clay balls or similar materials (such as rocks or gravel) before adding the potting mix. This creates spaces for excess water to gather, preventing it from reaching your plant's roots.
Add plant Position the plant you removed from the grow pot onto the new layer of mix in the planter, making sure it is centered. Next, fill in potting mix around the plant until it is secure. Be careful not to compress the soil too much, as the roots require airflow.
Water and enjoy Level the potting soil on top and water thoroughly! Consider bottom watering to keep from overwatering your plant. Also, its important to remember that a newly repotted plant doesn't require fertilizer.
Essentials of Plant Care
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