The Ins and Outs of Repotting Houseplants

If you want to keep your houseplants healthy, ensuring they have enough light and water is only part of the equation. When plants grow, they get bigger in size and weight, so the roots will eventually fill the pot and come out of the drainage holes. Repotting them to a larger container becomes necessary. Repotting your indoor plants provides a more suitable growing environment with additional space and a nutrient-rich potting mix. Beyond the health benefits for the plants, repotting is helpful for aesthetic reasons, as you can get rid of the outdated pots that no longer fit your décor.

Repotting houseplants isn’t that hard, but here are some tips to make it a success.

What Is the Best Time to Repot Houseplants?

It’s recommended to repot your indoor plants in the spring from late February through April. Roots immediately grow into the new space at this time of the year, but most houseplants don’t really mind when you do it but how you do it, so don’t limit yourself to those three months. Repotting is done every few years but may be necessary sooner if your plants show signs they need a bigger home. If you notice any of the signs below, then grab your soil:

• The plants are losing leaves – If the houseplants have outgrown their pots, they’ll drop larger, older leaves every time a new leaf sprouts. They’re overcrowded, so the roots aren’t able to get enough nutrients.
• The plants have stopped growing – Plants adapted to growing indoors tend to grow slowly, but if they cease growing altogether, you have a problem. Their health is declining due to the lack of soil and nutrients because the plants have more roots than soil.
• The plants are top-heavy and fall over easily – If the indoor plants are so tall that they’ve started leaning to the side, get them into new planters soon. You’ll know the plants are happy when they’ve grown one to three leaves in their new homes.

It’s never a good idea to repot too early or too late.

Choose The Right Container for Your Houseplants

Various containers are available, but the ones you need will eventually be based on your preferences. Some houseplants sit happily in partially shaded balconies, so you can breathe life, colour, and interest into your outdoor space with balcony pots. You can minimise the use of space along the balcony rail. Regardless of where you store your indoor plants, the new container must be slightly larger than the current one (one to two inches larger in diameter) to give more growing space for the roots. In case you didn’t already know, plastic pots retain moisture almost double the time of clay planters, which is helpful if you’re prone to forgetting to water your plants.

Can you keep plants in pots with no drainage holes? No. Drainage holes enable the water to drain from the soil, allowing for good airflow, not to mention that excess salts can be removed from the upper soil levels. You can grow any plant you can think of, but be careful about how much water you give it. Well-designed pots have holes at the bottom to offer a path for the water to go out. Not only can you maintain the proper moisture levels for the plants, but also allow the roots to breathe more freely. The increased oxygen intake helps the root system thrive.

As mentioned earlier, some containers don’t have drainage. They’re used to hide the grow pots that hold indoor plants aesthetically. Many offices use cachepots without drainage holes to eliminate the mess and hassle of moving the plants whenever they require watering. The excess water is emptied from the cachepot. Adding stones at the bottom of the container can be beneficial, as you can create a barrier between the soil and the excess water. Still, with time, the stagnant water moves up into the soil, leading to oversaturation. Decorate your home and the surroundings with the pots and appreciate their beauty.

Basic Guidelines for Plant Repotting

No matter if you’re transitioning to new pots because your plants are flourishing or you simply want to freshen up your home’s décor for spring, give your houseplants the best chance of survival.

• Take Your Plants Outside to Avoid a Mess. Repotting indoor plants is a messy task, so it’s best to do it outside, even if it means using the pavement. Cover the work area with a newspaper or something similar, like a tablecloth, to make cleaning up afterward easier. Sweep up anything that doesn’t make it into the container.
• Make Sure the Plants Are Watered Several Days in Advance. If the soil is too dry, repotting will cause stress, so make sure to water the houseplants ahead of time. The more surface area you’ve exposed to water, the more of it can move into the plants. When watering after repotting, water the plants fully and deeply so they can bounce back quickly.
• Use Peat-Free Multipurpose Compost. Peat-free potting compost has a very high organic matter content. Read the instructions carefully, as they’ll provide you guidance on how much feeding and watering is necessary. When the compost materials break down, there will be fewer bio pores, so they ensure proper aeration in the soil.
• Get The Plants into Their New Homes. Get rid of as much dirt as possible, untangle the roots with your fingers, and place the plant on top of the soil in the new pot. Just a little more soil is needed to make sure the plant is held firmly in place. If your fingers don’t disappear into the soil, it’s firm enough.

Final Thoughts

Wilting after repotting is quite common, especially in the first days. It may take some time before your plants recover from the transplant shock; it depends on the age, type of plant, soil type, and climatic conditions. If your indoor plants are wilting, the problem can be solved with good care, provided there are no signs of residual damage.