You just bought a brand-new plant from the nursery or your local home improvement store, and you are feeling great! You realize that it is time to repot because a) the roots are sticking out from the bottom of the plant or (b) the plant is not soaking up enough water! Your plant may also need repotting if the growth of the plant has slowed down. There are other reasons why you may want to repot, ultimately, you have made the decision that your plant is headed to a new home.
This post is all about how to repot a plant without killing it in a few easy steps.
Repotting a plant is simple, but there are some necessary steps that you will need to take as a plant owner. It is best to repot when it is sunny and humid in the spring and summer. It keeps your plants from being stressed out, and this is also the optimal time of year to make this change.
1. Your new pot should be slightly bigger
When you decide to move your plant to a new pot, be sure it is 2-4 inches bigger than the previous pot. You don’t want your new pot to be more than 4 inches wider because the additional soil may hold too much water which ultimately leads to root rot. That big pretty pot may be calling your name, but it isn’t quite time for that yet!
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2. Remove plant from container
In most cases, this is the nursery container or another pot. When removing the plant, squeeze the side of the container to loosen the root ball (if you can). Once it is loosened, turn it like you are unscrewing it. If you don’t want to get your workspace dirty, it’s a good idea to loosen your plant over the new pot so that the excess dirt collects there (instead of the floor).
Once the plant is out of the container, inspect the roots to see if it is root bound. If the roots are tight or root bound, gently pull the roots out.
3. Add potting soil/mix
Place the plant into the new pot. Using your hand (with gloves), trowel, or scooping device, add potting soil to the pot to fill in the gaps around the plant. You will want to leave some space between the plant and the top of the pot so the water has the opportunity and space to sink down into the soil. You can use any all-purpose potting soil or your preferred potting mix for your plant.
This is also a good time to thin out or prune the plant if needed. Sometimes it is good to remove leaves to give the plant more energy for root development.
4. Water
Now is the time to shower your plant with love! No, really! Give it a good water bath to saturate the plant and roots. This will give your plant a great start and foundation.
5. Add Sun
Now, all you have to do is find the perfect place for optimal sunlight. Your plant tag will tell you which sunlight requirements are needed for your plant.
Follow these simple steps to repot your plant, and it will pay you back as a healthy and vibrant plant.
