Most houseplants need a bigger pot every year or two. If roots are circling the bottom or poking out of the drainage hole, it is time. Repotting takes about fifteen minutes, and spring is the best season for it.
What you'll need
- A pot 2 to 5 cm wider than the current one, with a drainage hole
- Fresh potting mix suited to your plant
- A trowel or a large spoon
- Scissors for trimming roots
- Newspaper or an old towel to catch the mess
Steps
- Water the plant the day before, so the root ball slides out in one piece.
- Turn the pot on its side and ease the plant out. Squeeze or tap the pot if it sticks.
- Loosen the roots with your fingers and trim any that are dark, mushy or dead.
- Add a layer of fresh mix to the new pot so the plant sits at the same height as before.
- Set the plant in the middle and fill in around it, pressing gently to remove air pockets.
- Water well and keep it out of direct sun for a week while it settles.
Tip
Resist the urge to go much bigger. Extra soil holds extra water, and that is the most common way a repotted plant rots.