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Houseplant Repotting Guide

easyGardening1 hr

Tools Needed

Clean scissors — Sharp blades for trimming roots
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Mesh or coffee filter — Small piece to cover drainage holes
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Materials

Potting soil — Mix containing rich loam, sand/perlite, and organic matter(As needed for pot size)
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New pot — One size larger than the previous pot with drainage holes(1)
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Steps

1
Water the plant thoroughly a few hours before transplanting and wait one hour. This dampens the soil and makes the root ball easier to remove from the original container.
2
Prepare the new pot by covering the drainage hole with a piece of mesh or a coffee filter to prevent soil from falling out while allowing water to escape.
Drainage hole Mesh filter New pot Insert filter Cross-section: Place mesh at the base to stop soil loss while allowing water to drain.
3
Fill the bottom of the new pot with a few inches of potting soil. Add enough so that when the root ball is placed inside, the top of the root ball sits 1 inch below the pot's rim.
Fill bottom Potting soil Root ball (target) Pot rim Cross-section: Add soil until the root ball sits 1" below the rim.
4
Remove the plant from its old pot by turning it upside down and gently tapping the rim against a table. Do not pull the plant out by the stem; if it is stuck, you may break the pot as a last resort.
Tap rim Old pot Plant stem Table Avoid pulling by stem; tap the rim to loosen root ball from pot
5
Gently loosen the root ball using your fingers. If the roots are too tangled or have taken the shape of the old pot, use a sharp, clean knife to make slices 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep into the sides of the root ball. Trim away any dead or rotten roots with clean scissors.
Slice sides 1/4" deep Root ball Clean knife Side view · Gently break the root circle to encourage outward growth
6
Set the root ball into the new pot and fill the remaining space with potting soil. Cover the top of the root ball with a thin layer of soil, leaving 3/4 to 1 inch of space between the soil surface and the pot rim.
1" rim gap Root ball Base soil Fill gap Cross-section: Center the root ball and fill sides with fresh potting soil.
7
Water the plant thoroughly until water flows out of the drainage hole. You may add a water-soluble fertilizer to the water to help the plant recover faster.
8
Gradually introduce the plant to sunlight over the next 2 to 3 days. Avoid placing it in full sunlight immediately to prevent shocking the plant.

Pro Tips

  • Repotting is best done in spring or summer during the plant's active growth phase.
  • Avoid repotting houseplants in the middle of winter, as this can shock a dormant plant.
  • For fast-growing plants, repot once per year; slow-growing plants typically need a new pot every 2 to 3 years.
  • A clear sign it is time to repot is when roots begin poking out of the pot's drainage holes.

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