When should I repot?
Repotting a houseplant stimulates growth, so the ideal time to start repotting houseplants each year is in mid-spring. This is when natural light levels begin to increase again and houseplants begin putting energy into new growth after their restful winter period. The repotting season should then start to wind down in mid-summer. You want to make sure that you give the plant enough time to settle into their new home before natural light levels begin to decrease again.
Does my plant need to be repotted?
Knowing if a plant needs to be repotted can sometimes be tricky, but these are the key signs to be looking for…
roots are coming out of the bottom of the pot
roots are breaking or warping the pot they’re currently in
you can’t keep the plant sufficiently watered
the plant hasn’t been repotted for a very long time and the soil shrinkage is high
A plant that is in decline or ill health due to insect or disease issues should not typically be repotted as it may harm the plant even further.
It is also important to note that we do not recommend re-potting a new plant right away unless absolutely necessary. Plants can be stressed from moving from the grower, to the garden center, and then again to their new home, so allowing the plant to adjust to its new home and environment for about 6-12 months will be less stressful for the plant.
There are also some plants that rarely need to be repotted because they either like to have their roots crowded in the pot (i.e. Sansevieria and ZZ aroid) or don’t have a vigorous root system (i.e. cacti and some succulents). Repotting these plants too soon can be detrimental.
What pot should I use?
When selecting a new pot for your plant, we recommend only going up in size by an inch or two in diameter. Going much larger could cause the soil to root ratio to be out of balance which could cause excess moisture retention leading to root rot and fungus gnats. Going up in pot size too much could also create too much space for top-heavy plants, like Sansevieria, making them difficult to keep upright.
Pots with drainage holes are strongly recommended as they allow you to sufficiently water your plants without worry. Have a pot with no drainage? This is called a cache pot. It is designed to be used as a decorative cover pot, placing the plant in a nursery/grower pot down into the pot, creating a sealed environment to protect your floors or furniture.
Repotting plants in nursery/grower pots, rather than decorative pots, is an easy and inexpensive way to transition houseplants as they grow. Sometimes if you plant directly into decorative pots, you may have to break the pot in order to get the plant safely out of the pot when it is time to repot again. When you use a nursery/grower pot you can easily cut away the pot if necessary. Using a nursery/grower pot also makes it much easier to move the plant around whether it’s going outside for the summer or to the sink for regular, mess-free watering.
What soil should I use?
Using the appropriate potting soil is extremely critical for the health of your plant and helps make the transition into the new pot seamless. Many potting soils on the market have a moisture retention agent in them which is great for annual flowers outside but not so great for houseplants, so if you aren’t buying your soil at TPK, make sure you check the ingredients.
At TPK we offer several houseplant potting soil options as well as soils for Orchids, African Violets, and Bonsai. We also blend our own custom mixes in house for cacti & succulents and carnivorous plants. Not sure which soil to use? Come on in and our team will help you pick the perfect one for your specific plant.
Now you have the supplies, so it’s time to start the repotting process…
If possible, take the plant outside to repot to reduce your cleanup. If you need to repot inside, use a box, bucket, plastic tray, or tarp to control the mess. We have many options available at TPK.
Next, remove your plant from its current pot and investigate the roots. Check for any dead or mushy roots. These should be pruned away before repotting.
Use your fingers to gently loosen and pull apart the roots from the bottom and up the sides paying particular attention to any circling roots. This helps stimulate the roots to grow out into the new soil. For plants that are heavily root-bound, you can use your pruners to break up the tight twining roots.
Place your plant into the new pot to gauge how much soil you will need to add at the bottom to reach the level you want your plant to sit inside the pot. Then, add potting soil to the bottom of the pot until you’re reached the desired height for your plant. Leaving about a half inch to inch clearance from the top of the soil to the rim of the pot is ideal.
While holding the plant steady, start funneling in your potting soil around the sides of the root ball until you’ve reached the upper base of the plant. Lightly press down on the soil and the base of the plant ensuring it’s securely potted into its new home. If you want to keep your plant in the same pot it was in, remove the plant, wash off some of the old soil and prune back the roots. Then follow the same steps to repot it back into the original pot.
Water the plant sufficiently to help settle the new soil around the roots.
Finally, Place your newly repotted houseplant back into its normal position indoors, or even better, find a place for it to recover outside for the remainder of the summer into fall. Taking houseplants outside for the spring, summer, and fall is a great way to keep your houseplants happy and healthy because the air movement, humidity, and temperatures outside reflects more closely their preferred growing conditions.
Need more advice on repotting your houseplant or want us to do it for you? We provide consulting, diagnostic, and repotting services for your houseplants. Visit our services page to learn more about these services and how to schedule your appointment. We ask that you do not bring plants in for repotting without first reaching out to us for evaluation and scheduling.