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Houseplant Repotting Guide

Repotting Your Indoor Plants

Healthy roots are the foundations for growing houseplants successfully. So always look after your plant by looking after its roots. This guide, which is all about repotting houseplants, will help you to learn the skills to be able to do this correctly. So let's get started and dig in!

Snake Plant Moonshine without its pot about to be repotted

Most houseplants need repotting from time to time and our guide tells you everything you need to know

Houseplants normally grow in two different ways. The first is the part of the plant that sits above the soil, the leaves, flowers and everything else that makes a houseplant a houseplant. The second type of growth happens beneath the soil with the roots and for the most part are hidden from view.

Many houseplants do well in the same container and growing medium for many years. But eventually, the roots will have spread out as far as they can and will then grow in on themselves until completely filling the space available. When this happens the plant is "pot bound", or "root bound" and a repot might be needed.

Why are plant roots so important?- The roots support all that green growth above the soil and sometimes you'll need to repot your houseplant into a bigger pot with more space for those roots to grow into.

The usual reason for repotting is to upsize the current pot or container the plant is currently in and fill the remaining space with fresh nutrient containing growing material.

The main positive of repotting your houseplant is that you'll likely get more visible growth above the soil, for example, a bigger and healthier looking plant. Another advantage means you'll have to water it less because if a plant has completely filled its pot with roots there is then less space for water to be retained.

With those benefits, it's not surprising one of the most frequently asked questions we're asked from concerned plant parents is "when should I repot my houseplant?". Our list below will answer this.

Think about repotting your houseplant if any of the following applies

  • More frequent watering
    Whenever there are more roots than soil in a container, you'll find the soil dries out very quickly and you'll be watering it more than usual.
  • Plant rising up out of the pot
    Unstable wobbly plants in pots or those pushing themselves up and out are a sign that a repot is needed.
  • Roots are coming out of the drainage holes
    If a lot of roots have started to poke out of the pots drainage holes this likely means the roots are searching for more growing space.
  • Your houseplant isn't growing
    It hasn't grown for years although you want it to.
  • The pot has been damaged
    Either from age, accident or from the plant's own root growth.
  • The growing medium has broken down.
    It might be full of mold, starting to smell or has more salt deposits appearing on the soil surface than a Friday night fish and chip takeaway. When this happens it's time to freshen things up by repotting.
  • Pot bound
    You take the plant out of its container and it's all roots and no soil. Like this:
Spider Plant out of its pot with a very tight root ball

Spider Plant with root bound roots - Photo by Keith Williamson

When not to repot houseplants

It's not possible to provide fixed rules which suit and apply to all houseplants, therefore we'd recommend taking a look at our plant profiles where we can be more specific about their needs. But there are some generally agreed rules about when not to repot which we can personally vouch for -

  • Try not to repot a plant which is currently flowering
    Houseplants normally only flower when conditions are favorable to do so, and if you start turning the plant upside down, shaking it around and giving it a shockingly bad time it may abandon its flowering attempt. This is known as transplant shock.

    As a practical example of this happening, the flower buds may drop off, which can be frequently observed with the Christmas Cactus.
  • Don't do it if the plant is a giant already
    You may hurt yourself (and the plant) if it's too heavy to lift safely, in these circumstances, it's best to simply top dress.

    Top dressing involves scrapping off an inch or so of the soil at the top of the pot and replacing with fresh compost. This will provide nutrients and increase the pot's water absorbing capacities.
  • Some plants need to be pot bound
    In order for them to flower, some houseplants need to be in relatively small pots, for example, the Bird of Paradise and the Peace Lily.

    These plants tend to only concentrate their time growing flowers if they can no longer spend their energy growing further roots.
  • You don't want your plant to get any bigger
    It's almost a given that if you repot, the plant will grow larger. If there is no physical space for it to grow into and you can't move it to a bigger home, or you just don't want it to get any larger, don't repot it!
  • It's not usually the best idea to repot a sick houseplant
    If your plant has become sickly don't assume repotting will automatically cure-all. Unless the soil itself is in an absolutely terrible condition it's far more likely the sickly appearance is being caused by another problem and repotting may make matters worse.

    Of all possible things to try for treating a sick plant, repotting is one of the most radical and should only be considered when you've tried everything else.
Tom Knight profile photo

Hi, I'm Tom!

If you're like me and enjoy the challenge of growing houseplants and getting them to thrive, then Ourhouseplants can help. This website shares my knowledge and years of growing plants and provides (hopefully) helpful advice on properly caring for your indoor plant friends.

When is the best time to repot houseplants?

Almost all books and websites will advise you to only repot houseplants during Spring which is typically when new green growth is starting up. The idea is that the new growth works in both directions and the roots will quickly grow into the new space at this time of year and will, therefore, establish faster in its new home.

The majority of houseplants don't mind when you do it

However, when you've had some experience with houseplants as we have, you'll find that ultimately the majority of houseplants don't mind when you do it because it's more about how you do it.

So if you buy a plant in Winter and you think it's in desperate need of a new pot, don't be afraid to do it then if you feel it's needed. Just make sure you avoid overwatering and if you're repotting it outside keep exposure to the cold to a minimum.

Check out my article "Can I repot my plants in Winter?" for more guidance if you're thinking of doing it during the colder months.

What Container should I use?

With so many containers out there to pick from, you're bound to find one that suits your style. Here are a few pointers to consider when making your choice.

  • Drainage - Rather than planting your houseplant directly into a container with no drainage, it's best to have your plant in a pot with drainage holes and then put this pot holding your plant into an attractive outer container with no drainage holes. As shown in the photo here.

    This means if you've overwatered you can easily remove the pot holding your plant and pour the excess in the bottom of the container away.
  • Plant in a outer container being placed into another planter with no holes

    Grow your houseplants in a plastic planter with holes at the bottom, then put this into a container with no holes.

  • Clay pots Vs. Plastic Pots - Clay pots are porous whereas plastic ones aren't. This means plants growing in clay pots will need more frequent watering.
  • Upsizing - When you repot your houseplant, it's normally good practice to replace the current pot with a new one that's one size up. This gives some more growing space for the roots but isn't so much space that the plant gets lost.
Two images side by side showing a plant in a smaller pot and one in a much larger one

A plant in too large a container can become "lost" and will be at higher risk of being overwatered. It's better to use a smaller container and when the roots have filled this, move it up to the next size up.

  • Clean Pots Only - When you store a previously used pot or pull one out for use from an existing supply, give it a quick clean to prevent the spread of fungus or bacteria that might harm your plant.

Houseplants look fantastic, but a nice container or pot can really enhance not only the plant itself but the room it's in. Choose pots and containers that you like and suit your space but stick to the rules above.

Houseplant can be grown in all kinds of containers and pots but most will need repotting at some point

A nice container or pot can really make the plant stand out - Photo by Thanhpho2112

If you need some pot inspiration then check out our Pinterest. Or if you want some more commonly found or traditional looking containers then you can browse the Amazon links below which might give you some ideas.

Houseplant pots and containers for sale on Amazon.com

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Houseplant pots and containers for sale on Amazon.co.uk

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What Growing Medium should you use

What growing medium you choose to grow your plants in is important and surprisingly varied. Many plants will grow really well in lots of different growing mediums from the traditional soil based composts to the less common hydroponics.

For beginners, we'd suggest keeping it simple and using a pre-packaged mix from a store that's labeled for "houseplants".

These houseplant types of mixes can be used for most houseplants, except Air Plants, most Orchids, Pitcher Plants and Venus Flytraps. Those plants have very special needs and trying to use a houseplant compost won't go down well.

If you're looking to repot an Air Plant, a Slipper, Cambria or Moth Orchid, Pitcher Plant or Venus Flytrap be sure to use the links to read up on their repotting requirements.

For anyone experienced with houseplants, or those who want to learn more, check out our full guide on the different growing mediums.

How To Repot Houseplants

Repotting a houseplant in soil

Photo by Rubyand Lion

We've covered all the basics for you above and now it's time to look at a real life repotting attempt with full instructions to guide you through.

Step One - Preparation

First things first, find your space. It can be messy work so it's normally best to do it outside, but if you've restricted outside space then, of course, you can do it inside. Just make sure you cover your work area with newspaper or something similar to protect the floor and to help with the clean up afterward.

Collection of different plant pots

Gather everything you need such as the new pot and fresh compost.

Step Two - Removing the Plant

Taking the houseplant out of the existing pot might sound easy. But if you're repotting because the roots have filled the pot then it's likely the plant might not come out without a fight.

This is due to the old pot being completely full of roots and it might be ever so slightly distorted as a result. The roots may also be coming out of the bottom like in the picture below and just one or two of these roots can really hold everything firmly in place.

Roots coming out of the pot and grabbing on tight

Just one or two roots can stop the whole plant coming out of its pot.

Either of these issues can create a frustrating challenge. But gentle hands and patience are needed here, so no yanking the plant out by the base of the stem, because this is simply setting yourself up for problems. The kind of problem which involves ripping the plant in two!

Try the following ideas to release a stubborn plant from its container.

  • Idea One - Squeezing: (if it's in a clay / hard material pot which can't be squeezed go straight to Idea Two).

    Squeeze the pot a little in your hands and rotate, repeating the squeeze as you go all the way around, potentially several times. Eventually, you should start to feel the plant getting lose and then at this point the root ball and everything should hopefully slide out neatly.
  • Idea Two - Remove hooked on roots: - If any roots have grown out of the drainage holes at the bottom, you can cut or break them off. Just one of these roots can twist and hook on with amazing strength completely stopping the overall release.
  • Idea Three - Further release tips: - If the squeeze trick didn't work, there are no hooked on roots to dislodge and the plant is still trapped you'll need to apply a little more force. You can try pushing the blunt end of a pencil (or similar) through each drainage hole a little up into the root ball, the intention is for you to gently push the plant up and out.
  • Idea Four - When all else fails... It's hammer time: - It's time to get brutal. On the container. On occasion, some plants leave you no choice but to literally be smashed or cut out of their old home.

    A very badly distorted pot is an indication you'll need to cut your plant free with a pair of large scissors. If it's not in a plastic pot, you have one of two choices, either smashing the container or abandoning the repotting attempt entirely.

Step Three - Clean Up The Roots

Hopefully, by this point, the houseplant is free from its old home! This is a great time to check the roots for damage and the general health of the plant, any mushy roots which are black, dead or dying should be cut away.

If you're repotting because your plant is sick, and you can now see that the root health isn't good, this is a warning that you need to adjust how you're caring for the plant generally.

Some people at this point will also recommend cutting or pulling off healthy roots to encourage new growth. We don't recommend this at all.

Some people will recommend cutting off healthy roots to encourage new growth. We don't recommend this at all

You'll just be forcing the plant to grow all these roots back which is a complete waste of energy that would be better spent fueling new leaf growth or flowers.

We think this idea evolved from how gardeners "tease out" roots before planting outdoors. It's not needed for houseplants growing in pots. Just remove the dead or damaged roots only.

Teasing out, means you are gently pulling on the compacted roots to loosen and free them from the tight bundle. Tightly restricted roots can end up growing around in circles and not out into the new compost and space of the new container. So, by all means, give teasing out a go if your plant's roots are all tightly wound up, just remember not to be too aggressive.

Step Four - Planting Up

There are several good ways to actually get the plant into its new home. We're going to take you through two of the most popular.

Potting up a plant into fresh brown soil

Use the old container as a guide and backfill around it. Once removed it leaves a perfect size hole for your plant.

Whichever you choose, make sure when you've finished the plant is still sitting at a similar "soil level" or depth as it was in its old home.

The first way of doing it uses the old pot as a "guide" as shown in the photo here. Placing the old pot into the new container (with some fresh compost at the bottom already) visually measure its distance from the top, bottom and sides.

When you're happy you just "plant the pot" by filling all around the sides between the new and old pot with fresh compost, then pull the old pot up and out. This leaves an imprint that your plant can now just be slotted into for a perfect fit. Just a little more soil is then needed to firm it into position before giving it a good watering.

Young Strelitzia in a new pot

Strelitzia in a bigger planter.

This method is very easy and ensures a very precise result. But it might not be practical if the new pot you've selected isn't of a similar shape to the first, is only a tiny bit bigger or if the root ball has lost the shape created by the old container when you've been freeing the plant.

The second and more frequently used approach is just to use the plant itself as the measuring guide. Put the plant in the pot and hold it at the right height and position with one hand and then use your other hand to fill the space with compost.

This way of doing it is more fiddly as you need to get it just right, but if you go wrong or you're not happy with the result you can just keep doing it until you are. When you're satisfied, gently firm the soil around the plant a little to keep it in place and finally give it a good watering so everything settles into place.

That's it, repot complete. Good Job!


About the Author

Tom Knight

Tom Knight

Over the last 20 years, Tom has successfully owned hundreds of houseplants and is always happy to share knowledge and lend his horticulture skills to those in need. He is the main content writer for the .

Also on Ourhouseplants.com


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