Everything You Need to Know about Repotting
The ever important but daunting task - repotting can be one of the best things you can do for your houseplant. However, it’s important to know just how, why, and when it’s necessary. Just like people, plants need a good amount of space to grow and thrive and repotting gives you the opportunity to freshen their soil, check their root system, and move them into a bigger (or smaller) pot. We’ve gone over all the basics below to help you on your repotting journey!
Plant Shop’s care team member, Phoebe, repotting a Monstera with its first moss pole.
Why should I repot my plants?
Repotting can be vital in keeping your plants healthy and, if you’re aiming to, is one of the key methods to get your plant to grow larger. We should repot our plants regularly to give them fresh soil and more room. The soil that your plant is in will eventually be drained of its nutrients, so it’s important to regularly refresh the soil. Soil can also become compacted over time with no room for air or water to flow through to the roots, leading to an underwatered plant. Equally, if your plant is planted in the wrong kind of soil, it can become ‘waterlogged’ - leading to an overwatered plant that can’t dry out. When you repot your plant, you can replace this soil to ensure your plant stays nice and healthy.
As plants grow, so do their roots, and repotting into a slightly larger pot will mean that your plant can push out new growth with ease. Ever had a leaning or top-heavy plant? Repotting into a better pot can also help to support your plant, so no more falling over!
Even if you’d prefer to keep your plant on the small side, repotting lets you prune back roots - allowing you to keep your plant in a smaller pot for just a little bit longer. You can also divide your plant directly from the soil, which is another way to keep your plant on the smaller side! You can gift your cuttings or plant sections to your friends, or pot them onto another small pot to grow your collection.
How often should I repot my plants?
We only recommend repotting your plants only when they need it. Although we say to repot your plants ‘regularly’, this is completely dependent on each type of plant, how long you’ve had it, and how much they’ve grown. By ‘regularly’ we typically mean once every one to two years. Throughout the year, look out for signs that your plant needs repotting. The main two signs to look out for are: 1. your plant has stopped growing and 2. you notice lots of roots growing out of the pot.
It is also important to not repot your plant too often, and we recommend letting it settle into its new pot for a day or two before its next watering. Once its settled, avoid repotting again until you notice it needs some TLC. Plants can become easily shocked when their roots are handled, and too many fluctuations in change may cause it to decline in health. Similarly, if you’ve just bought yourself a new plant that needs repotting, let it sit in your house for at least a week or so it can adjust to the change of environment.
When should I repot my plants?
Many houseplants are native to warm and tropical climates, so you can imagine why they need special care in the colder months! This is why we recommended waiting until Spring - Summer to repot your plants. Spring is also when you'll start to see your houseplants put out new growth and potentially outgrow their pots, so giving them some extra room can really help them thrive! Repotting when it's warm also reduces the likelihood of your plants experiencing shock from the cold after repotting, plus, when it's warm, you can repot your plants outside to avoid all that mess…
Healthy roots are often cream/brown and sturdy. You can see in this picture how they grow to the shape of the pot - we call this ‘rootbound’.
Do I need a moss pole?
Not all houseplants need moss poles, but for plants like Monstera it can become essential as they grow more mature. In the wild, these plants naturally grow up and alongside trees and walls, latching onto small crevices with their aerial roots. Giving them a trellis or moss pole gives them something to latch on to, leading to a taller and better supported plant!
Plants like Philodendron and Pothos can climb or trail, so it’s up to how you’d like to style it when you come to repotting them. When given something to climb, we find that these plants will produce more growth than if they were trailing, so worth considering if your plant is looking a bit leggy...
For smaller Monstera, or other plants like Ficus, bamboo sticks are great at adding a little support to keep your plant upright! And again, with this little bit of help, your plant will thank you by producing healthier growth.
How do I know which pot size to get?
When you repot your plant, we typically recommend only sizing up a few centimeters or inches (depending on how big your pot is). This is because all plants need the right balance of soil and roots. If your plant has dense roots, it may not have enough soil to properly soak up water, so repotting will allow you to add more soil in and around the root ball. Similarly, too much soil may lead to an overwatered plant. Unfortunately, huge pot does not equal huge plant - at least not that quickly.
Depending on the root ball, and the size of your plant, you may be best keeping your plant in the same pot.
The main reason you don’t want to pot up too large is because of overwatering. If your plant has a small root ball surrounded by excess soil, then it won’t be able to dry out. What many plant owners don’t know is that plants need oxygen in their soil to breath - which is why they ‘drown’ when overwatered. Repotting into a pot just a few inches bigger will allow your plant to grow with less risk of overwatering. Repotting is also a great opportunity to add a chunkier soil mix to reduce overwatering further.
The absolute key thing to remember is drainage. The pot you use must have holes at the bottom to allow water to pass over the roots and out of the pot. It may be tempting to pot directly into a gorgeous ceramic planter, but this will lead to root rot if not drained properly. If you don’t like the look of the plastic pot inside the decorative pot, you could opt for terracotta. Terracotta planters often have drainage, meaning you can plant directly into them! If you think your plant has suffered from root rot or overwatering, it may actually be best to downsize. A good ratio of soil to roots + well draining soil is all you need!
Lay down an old sheet or towel to protect your plant’s leaves and/or to collect fallen dirt. P.S. there will be a lot…
How do I repot my plants?
First time repotting? We've put together a step-by-step guide on how to repot your plants at home:
Step 1 - Gather Supplies
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, we must prep! You'll need:
An empty pot with good drainage (slightly bigger than your plant's current pot). This could be a plastic nursery pot, terracotta, or ceramic pot - just as long as it has a drainage hole at the bottom!
Some potting mix. For most tropical plants, a regular Houseplant Mix is perfect. Mix in Orchid Bark and Perlite to make chunkier soil that will dry faster. Cacti and Succulents love to dry out, so we recommend getting a speciality Cacti & Succulent mix that is designed for quick drying.
A moss pole or support sticks (if you need them). You can use either a pre-made coconut fibre moss pole or DIY your own - just make sure you get one around the same height or taller than your plant.
Step 2 - Remove the plant from its pot.
Wiggle your plant from its current pot. If your plant has grown roots out of the holes in the pot, you may have to either cut/break the pot or give the roots a quick trim. If you can, we recommend trying to keep as many roots intact as possible.
Use a stick or your fingers to gently massage the roots and dislodge the soil. If you’re wanting to fully replace the soil, you’ll want to do this until most of the soil is gone and all the roots are untangled. It is completely normal to see some root loss.
If you notice any black or slimy roots, these are rotten and should be pruned off. Pruning unhealthy roots will help it to produce new roots and avoid more root rot. With a gentle hose or under a tap, you can also clean the roots to get a better look at them.
Step 3 - Pot your plant.
Grab your new pot and add a layer of fresh soil to cover the bottom of the pot, at least an inch or so.
Place your plant into the pot, holding it where you’d like it to be positioned. With the roots untangled and easy to manage, now’s the time to add your moss pole. On a Monstera, place the moss pole along the ‘back’ of the stem (the side that you see aerial roots) or in the middle of multiple stems - wherever provides the most support + looks best!
Whilst your holding the plant with one hand, use your other hand to scoop in the fresh soil. Occasionally shake the pot to distribute the soil evenly and allow it to fall into the spaces between the roots.
Fill the pot all the way to the top, patting it down to fill any gaps. For aesthetics, you can leave a few centimeters to add a decorative layer of rocks or other top dressings.
Step 4 (optional) - Secure your plant to its support stick.
Using twine, zip ties, or moss pole pins, attach the plants stem to the support. Pin stems back to train your plant to grow more upright - leaves will eventually turn to face the sun so don’t worry if it looks a little silly to start with. Don’t force any touch stems as this might cause them to snap.
As it grows, attach any new leaves to train it to grow along the moss pole.
Step 5 - Let it settle.
Move your plant back to its familiar spot, or somewhere that’s away from drafts and gets optimal light. Depending on the plant, you may want to wait a day or two before watering to let it grow accustom to its new home.
Enjoy your neater, refreshed, repotted plant!
What if I damage my plant?
Root loss is very common when it comes to repotting, especially if you want to untangle the roots. The best way to avoid excess root loss is to take your time, or leave the root ball to soak in some water for a few hours before repotting. If you think the roots are healthy, and soil still well draining, you could opt for skipping the untangling step. Simply take your bigger pot, add a layer of soil to the bottom, and place in your plant - root ball and soil untouched. Then fill in the gaps around the edges and on top. This is particularly good for smaller plants that aren’t rootbound.
When you prune your plant’s leaves or roots, the plant receives the message to produce new growth - so don’t be disheartened if you lose some! In some cases, you may see some yellowing leaves as your plant adjusts to its new environment, but this is expected from any change. Give it a few months, and your plant should produce happy and healthy growth again. For much MUCH bigger plants, roots can become more difficult to handle, especially when the plant is too heavy to move easily. We’ve heard from some of our customers that sawing off the bottom layer of roots has been very successful for them as it allows new growth hassle free!
What if I need help?
Repotting can be a daunting job and sometimes an inaccessible job for many. Luckily, there's help to be had! Repotting doesn’t have to be a solitary activity - there’s no stopping you from grabbing a friend to help you lift a heavy plant, or make a date of it and plan a repotting session with your bestie.
You can also reach out to plant care experts and those in the field for professional help. For instance, Plant Shop has our very own Repotting Service, where you can easily book your plants in to be repotted by our team in Stockport. The best plant parents know when they need help, handed over to good hands.
We offer two Repotting Services:
Our Repotting Consultation booking is for individual plants, dropped off & collected from our Stockport shop. You can learn more here to see our pricing guide!
Our Ultimate Repotting Service is ideal for those who have multiple plants to repot & would like their plants collected/delivered by us. This set price covers 3 plants max. Learn more & book here.
This advice is given from our care team’s personal experience, but you may find other methods work better for you. Every plant and plant parent is different, so feel free to use this guide as a jumping off point for your repotting journey - we hope you found these tips helpful!
Words by Phoebe Ingram