Our beloved houseplants need regular maintenance to keep them in their prime. Repotting your houseplants is a great way to rejuvenate them when it’s necessary. If you think you need to repot one of your houseplants, follow this how-to guide to help you give your plants a smooth transition into better soil and a bigger home.
Signs Your Houseplant Needs Repotting
First, identify if your houseplant actually needs repotting. Unnecessary repotting can traumatize your plant and put it at risk for damage. Sometimes, your plant may just need some new high-quality soil and not necessarily a new home. Here are some signs that your houseplant’s home needs an upgrade:
- Your houseplant is in a pot that has insufficient drainage
- The roots of the plant have escaped through the drainage holes
- Top-heavy plants won’t stay upright
- Pale, listless plants that have stopped growing
- Roots that are thick and coiling in on themselves
Remember that some plants don’t mind being a little crowded in their pots, so don’t rush to relocate them unless the plant is suffering due to crowding.
Supplies to Repot Your Houseplant
While you’re considering how to repot your houseplant, you’ll also need to take a quick inventory of your plant care supplies. Some of the supplies you need will depend on the specific plant’s needs, like soil type and pot size. Here are some essentials that every houseplant enthusiast should have for when the need to repot arises:
- Garden gloves
- Trowel
- Sharp knife
- Scissors
- Potting soil (choose specifically for the type of plant you are repotting, or high-quality all-purpose soil)
- Pots (no larger than one or two inches bigger than the one the plant is being transplanted from)
Preparing to Repot Your Houseplant
Before getting your hands dirty, haul out your supplies and lay down some newspaper or something to protect your work surface. You should thoroughly water your plant a day or two before you repot it. A properly watered plant will be easier to move out of its pot, and it will reduce the chances of your plant being shocked and damaged during its move.
Unnecessary repotting can traumatize your plant and put it at risk for damage.
How to Repot Your Houseplant
Deep breath. Don’t worry, you’ve got this!
Step 1: Gently loosen the plant from its pot, all while supporting the plant from the base if you are able. Don’t pull at the stem if possible. You can use a knife to pry the plant gently from the pot if needed. Be sure to protect the plant during this tricky step.
Step 2: Check the condition of your houseplant’s roots. Gently shake off excess soil from the roots. If the roots are bound together, gently loosen them from the rootball. At this stage, you should be checking for and cutting away any roots that are rotten, damaged, or black.
Step 3: If you’re repotting back into the same pot but with different soil, be sure to wash out the pot and remove any gunk or sediment. If you’re moving your plant into a new home, choose a pot that is only slightly bigger than its current container, and always try to find pots with good drainage.
Step 4: Add a few inches of soil to the bottom of the new pot. Then, gently lower your houseplant into its new container. Slowly add soil around the plant. Gently pack the soil to make sure there aren’t air pockets, but be careful not to harm the roots while doing this. Leave about a half-inch of space from the top of the pot. Finally, water your newly potted plant lightly until it is moist.
What to do After Repotting Your Plant
Over the next few days, you may notice the soil wasn’t as high as you thought it was as it drops down post-watering. Feel free to top it up as needed. Your plant may look to be struggling a bit in the week or so that follows a repot. Try to be patient and trust the process! Wait about a week before watering it again as the plant adjusts to its new home. To make life a little easier for your newly repotted plant: keep it out of harsh light or extreme temperatures.
Repotting your houseplants is easier than it looks and can help save your houseplant’s life and help them thrive again. If you’re wondering how to repot and where to buy houseplant soil in Bismarck, come visit us!