How To Repot Your Houseplants

Why Do We Need To Repot?

The answer to this is pretty simple. Why do we need to buy bigger shoes when our feet grow? So they fit! This is exactly the same for Houseplants. A misconception is to plant your plant into a really big pot to save the time every year. But, this is the same situation as us with our shoes. If your size 5 shoes are getting too small would you buy a size 10? No, just one size up. A size 6 will do the job. 

The Problems With Not Repotting?

There can be a few problems with not repotting your plant that can lead to the slow decline of your plants health. If repotting is a task you're putting off, don't worry your plant will not die overnight and it will most likely be okay for a while. One of the main problems is your plants roots will become overcrowded and root bound in the pot. This will limit the growth of your plant and can even cause your plant to start dropping leaves and showing signs of poor health. A smaller pot will also dry out a lot quicker during the summer as well, requiring a lot more watering and care. Finally, repotting your Houseplant is a great way to add new nutrients to the soil without using fertiliser.

When Should I Repot My Houseplant?

You should repot your plant in the spring. You should repot your plant every, year or two. Have a look at the bottom of your pot to see if the roots are poking out of the holes. If they are, it's time to repot in the spring. The plants bought on our website will not need repotting for at least a year in most cases.

What Pot Should I Use?

We recommend a pot with holes at the bottom. This can be a plastic or porous pot. Decorative pots look nice, but most do not have holes at the bottom, therefore we do not recommend planting directly into a decorative pot, instead place your plant with a holed pot into the decorative pot. The holes at the bottom of the pot will allow excess water to drain away. Choose a pot that is slightly bigger than its current pot, it only needs to be a couple of centimetres bigger.

What Soil Should I Use?

You can get pretty technical with this subject and every plant has its ideal conditions. We recommend you researching the best soil for your particular plant. However, we sell a great peat free soil on our website that is suitable for most Houseplants and special Cactus and Succulent soil is good for your cacti friends. This soil will provide nutrients for your plants as well as good drainage.

How Do I Repot My Plant?

You will need: 

- Your new pot

- Soil

- Gloves or protective equipment to keep you and your environment clean

Step By Step Repotting Guide

1. Make sure you protect the area around you and yourself, this can be a muddy game.

2. Get your new pot and place a layer of soil into the bottom of it. This layer should be about 5-10cm depending on the size of your plant and pot.

3. Place your hand flat around the stem of your plant above the pot.

4. Tip your plant and pot upside down. Let the plant slide out of its old pot. You may have to squeeze it gently to dislodge the plant out. If the roots have grown out of the pot a lot you might have to use scissors to cut the pot off.

5. Have a look at your houseplants roots, make sure the roots are white and not mushy and brown. If they are mushy and brown cut these roots off. If the roots are really tight and compact, try and dislodge some of the roots to help the roots grow downwards in the new pot.

6. Place the plant into the new pot.

7. Add soil over and around the plant in the new pot and push down to compact the soil.

8. It's time for a good watering!

If you need anymore help with repotting, please get in contact with us. We will be more than happy to help.