Houseplant Repotting 101 Guide
We totally get how repotting your houseplants can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re newer to owning and caring for plants indoors. In this blog post we’ll answer some of the most common questions that we get asked and provide some guidance, so you’ll feel more confident repotting your house plants.
When Should You Repot?
If you’re wondering when your plant will actually need repotted, here’s what you should look for:
Roots growing out the bottom of the pot or pushing the plant up and out of its planter.
Soil drying out at a fast rate requiring you to water more frequently.
Stunted growth and or leaf loss.
If you notice any of these things with your house plants, it’s a great indicator that your plant would benefit from a repot. You should also consider how long it’s been since the plant was last repotted. For most plants, yearly repotting is recommended, although some plants only require a repot every 2-3 years. If you’re not quite sure, you can always remove the plant from its current pot to check on the roots and see how they look as well as how much space there is for soil before you decide your next step. If there is a lot of roots and not a lot of soil, generally you’ll want to repot. If there is a lot of soil and not a lot of roots, you’ll likley want to wait before placing in a larger pot. Repotting seasonally in the Spring and Summer is ideal for your plants because they’ll be in their growing season, but if you have a plant that is indicating it might need a repot in the Fall or Winter, you don’t have to wait. Here’s a list of plants that like to be more compact in their pots, or that have shallow roots and won’t need to be repotted as often.
“String of” Plants: Pearls, Hearts, Dolphins, Turtles, Bananas, Fish Hooks, etc.
Cactus
Succulents
Peperomia
Holiday Cactus
Tradescantia
African Violet
Nerve Plant
Hoya
Philodendron
ZZ Plant
Snake Plant
What Size & Type of Pot Should You Use?
We recommend sizing up your pot about 2" in diameter at a time. A big pot for “more space to grow” isn’t always best and can lead to roots rotting. Your pot should also have a drainage hole so that excess water can drain instead of sitting in the bottom of your pot. If you are using a pot that doesn’t have a drainage hole, we’d highly recommend that you plant into a plastic pot that does have drainage, and then tuck the plastic pot inside your decorative pot. This will help to prevent root rot and overwatering. Just make sure that when you water, you dump out any excess water that drains through into the decorative pot, or that you remove the plant from it’s decorative pot and water it at your sink before placing it back inside.
Terracotta pots are another pot option that tend to dry out quicker and will do best with plants that prefer dry soil like Cactus, Succulents, Snake or ZZ Plants. They will work for all plants, you just may have to water more frequently. Terracotta can also be a great option if you tend to water your plants more frequently. Just beware that they can be fragile, and shatter easily.
What Type of Soil Should You Use?
Choosing a quality potting soil is so important for the overall health of your plant! A good soil for cactus and succulents will drain and dry out quickly, and it will include components like perlite, sand and, or rocks mixed with soil. We would recommend a soil blend like this for the following plants:
Haworthia
Sedum
Snake Plants
Ponytail Palm
“String of” plants (Pearls, Hearts, Dolphins, Turtles, Bananas, Fish Hooks, etc.)
Yucca Cane
Aloe
Hoya
A good soil for your tropical plants will be chunky, drain well, and retain a bit of moisture. It will include components like coco coir, orchid bark, LECA, perlite and or vermiculite mixed with soil. We would recommend this type of soil blend for the following plants:
Pothos
Philodendrons
Calathea (Prayer Plants)
Holiday Cactus
Alocasia
Caladium
Tradescantia
Peperomia
Begonia
ZZ Plant
Polka Dot
Aglaonema
African Violet
Ferns
We carry both types of soil blends here in our shop, and you can find quality options at most Garden Centers.
What Are The Steps for Repotting?
Now that you’ve decided it’s time to repot your plant, you have a pot and potting soil picked out, you’re ready to go. Here’s what you’ll do:
Set up your workspace. Lay out some newspaper, a paper bag, or a repotting mat, and have your plant, pot, and potting soil on hand, as well as gloves, a shovel, and pruning shears if necessary.
Start by removing your plant from it’s existing pot.
You’ll want to be careful while doing this, but you can be a little more aggressive than you might assume. Don’t be afraid to lay your plant down on it’s side. You may need to squeeze on the outside of your pot, roll it around, or use a shovel to scrape around the inside edge of the pot and loosen things up. If repotting a cactus, make sure you’re wearing rubber palm gloves, or you can use tongs or a towel to assist.
Once your plant is out of the pot it was in, you can get a good look at the roots. Light, plump and firm roots are healthy, dark and squishy are rotted and should be removed for the overall health of your plant. You may also need to reevaluate your pot choice at this point depending on how things look.
Then you’ll want to tickle the roots to loosen them before putting your plant in it’s new pot. You do not need to remove all of the soil unless you see signs of root rot or pests.
Add a layer of soil to the bottom of your new pot.
Now add your plant. You can add or remove more soil in the bottom of the pot depending on how you want your plant to sit in it’s new pot.
Then fill in around the top with more soil. Tap on the side of the pot to help it fill in and settle, there’s no need to pack it down too tight, and it’s best to leave a bit of space, about 1 inch, between the top soil and the top of your pot to avoid any soil spillage when you water.
Depending on the type of plant, you may want to add a moss pole or trellis that your plant can climb for extra support.
We’d recommend watering your plant after you’ve completed a repot if the soil is dry, and then placing your plant back in it’s home.
