How to Repot a Plant in 5 Steps

Repotting houseplants is a form of regular maintenance necessary for the ongoing health of the plant; this chore provides an opportunity for you to move a plant up a pot size, freshen its potting mix, or both. How often you repot your houseplant depends upon how quickly the plant grows and the rate at which the pot itself or the soil mix degrade.

When a plant outgrows its current pot, the roots cannot properly absorb water and nutrients. This will cause a plant to stop growing or can even cause leaves to turn brown and die. To accommodate a growing plant, you can replace the current planter with a larger pot. Even if a plant has not completely outgrown its pot, it's important to provide new soil annually since as the plant grows, its roots deplete the potting soil of nutrients.

You should establish a regular cadence for repotting your houseplants and do so at least once a year unless the plant is new or exhibiting signs that it’s struggling. Here is when you should repot your plant:

• Every spring: With a few exceptions, you should repot plants at least once annually, typically in the spring. Unless the grower or gardening center notes for you otherwise, spring is the preferable time of year to do most repotting since you an expect the plant’s roots to grow the quickest during this season. Additionally, a plant that is already in a growth stage has better odds of rapidly adapting to its new container, so repotting during spring will minimize the plant’s chances of undergoing transplant shock.
• If your plant outgrows its pot: If you notice a houseplant with roots growing out of the pot’s drainage holes, it has become rootbound. it’s advisable to repot the plant—regardless of the time of year—to encourage proper growth. A rootbound plant is receiving little oxygen in and around its root system, which over time can kill the plant.
• When your plant is new: You should repot new plants after purchasing them from a nursery or garden store, as they typically retail in temporary plastic pots not designed to be long-term plant pots. If you are in doubt about when or whether to repot a specific plant, it can be a good idea to consult the grower or retailer who sold it to you.

For optimum plant care, choose a container that is about one to two inches wider in diameter than the current pot. You want to give the plant a little more room for its roots to grow, but if the pot is too large, you'll need to water it often (to avoid the excess soil from drying). This isn’t ideal, as overwatering can lead to root rot.

Drainage is also important in a new potting container. Choose a terra-cotta pot with drainage holes and use a saucer under the pot to absorb or collect any excess water. If you prefer a decorative pot that does not have drainage holes, choose a container a size larger than the current pot. Then place the potted plant inside the decorative container.

Repotting plants is important to maintaining healthy indoor plants and can be a fairly easy task as long as you have the right tools for the job. Line your table with old newspaper or do your repotting outdoors to avoid making a mess inside your house. Follow these steps to repot your plant:

1. 1. Prepare the new pot. Cover the bottom of the pot with a layer of new potting soil. Choose the best soil for your plant—for example, cactus potting soil for succulents or general potting soil for everyday houseplants.
2. 2. Remove the plant from the old pot. While removing the plant from its former home, it’s important to break as few roots as possible. If the plant is in a plastic pot, you can gently squeeze the pot to help you slide the plant out. If the plant is in a large terra-cotta container, you can use a small trowel or shovel to gently loosen the soil around the container’s edges. When you’re ready, carefully grasp the plant’s main stem near the base and gently pull the entire plant from its current pot. Note that as an alternative, you can free a rootbound plant in a plastic pot by taking a pair of scissors to the plastic—this will minimize root damage provided you don’t cut through any roots.
3. 3. Loosen compressed roots. Lay the plant on a table or flat surface and shake off some of the old soil surrounding the roots. Gently untangle as much of the root ball as possible if you see that the roots are tightly compacted. If you have a rootbound plant and your plant has long, thin roots, you can use pruning shears to cut off the spindly ends of the root system or any roots that are decaying or otherwise look unhealthy.
4. 4. Transfer the plant to the new pot. Lower the plant’s roots into the new container and hold the plant with one hand so that the top of the roots are just below the lip of the new pot. Fill in around the roots with the new potting soil, lighting packing it down around the roots. Avoid compressing the dirt tightly around the roots, as this will starve them of oxygen, which plants need to thrive. Continue adding dirt until the top of the soil is just above the plant's roots. If possible, tap the bottom of the pot gently on the ground a few times to let the soil settle further. Add more soil if necessary.
5. 5. Water the plant. Once your plant is in its new planter, water the soil thoroughly until all the water drains out of the bottom drainage holes. The top layer of soil should be moist but not overly wet. If you find that the addition of water has greatly reduced the soil level, consider adding more potting mix and wetting it again. Avoid overwatering or letting the plant sit in a pool of excess water.

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