The Ultimate Guide To Repotting Indoor Plants

The perfect time to consider repotting your indoor plants is at the start of Spring. This will give your indoor plants enough time to grow out a new root system before the next Winter. During Winter, your indoor plants will become dormant. They’ll stop growing and live entirely off stored nutrients. 

The beginning of spring will bring longer days and more sunlight. This will snap your plant out of dormancy and trigger it to grow ( if it has the room ). That’s why Spring is a great time to transfer your indoor plants to larger containers. You can also replace the soil and fertiliser.

If all else fails, you can just buy a new plant from an online plant marketplace like UpPlant. But if you really want to save your plants, keep reading for our extensive guide on repotting indoor plants.

Step by step guide to repotting indoor plants

1. Water before repotting

You’ll want to thoroughly water your indoor plant a day before re-potting. This will make sure it’s well hydrated before the big move.

2. Remove the plant from the pot

Support the plant’s stem with your fingertips and invert the pot. Tap the rim of the pot softly on a hard surface. Gently wiggle the pot away from the plant to release it. A butter knife can be used around the sides to loosen root-bound plants.

3. Separate the roots

Brush off the excess soil to reveal the root system. Tease the roots gently to separate the joined ones. You should trim any damaged roots that have turned brown or black.

4. Add soil to the new container

Choose a clean pot that is larger than the previous one. Add compost or indoor potting mix in the new pot and place the root ball on top of it. Place some new compost around and over the plant. Avoid patting the potting soil too firmly into the container as this won’t allow your roots to freely grow.

5. Water after repotting

Make sure to leave enough room on top to allow for watering. Place the plant in an area where it can drain easily. Water your plant after repotting and allow any surplus water to drain. You won’t need to water your plant again until the surface soil is dry to touch.

How to tell if your indoor plants need to be repotted

Indoor plants kept in a small pot for too long tend to not thrive or even die. That’s why it’s important to look out for the signs your indoor plant needs to be repotted. If your plant exhibits any of the following symptoms, it’s high time to repot it.

• Take a look at the base of your plant. If its roots are growing out of the drainage hole, you should give it more space by repotting.
• If you observe roots circling the top of your pot and/or pushing the plant out of the container, it needs extra space.
• You should consider repotting if your plant is growing very slowly.
• If your plant has lots of yellow leaves it may require a bigger container.
• If your plant has drooping leaves while receiving adequate water, it might be a sign that the roots are taking up too much space. You should relocate it to a larger pot.
• If you observe mineral and/or salt build-up on your plant or pot, you should repot it immediately.
• If your soil has compressed in the container, this is indicating that the roots are not getting enough oxygen.

Why do indoor plants require repotting?

Repotting your indoor plant is important due to following reasons:

• Indoor plants absorb soil nutrients that cause the soil to become depleted over time. After a few seasons of flourishing, you may discover that your plant is unhappy. Repotting it with new soil will provide your plant with new nutrients that it requires to grow.
• Have you ever noticed water leaking out of the bottom of your pot as soon as you water your plant? This is due to the plant’s root system being too compact. Repotting will fix this problem and allow your plant to absorb water more easily.
• All plants, including indoor plants, appreciate a little breathing room. Plants may bounce back quickly and abundantly after being repotted. Your plant will be happy and develop quicker if its root system has room to stretch its legs.
• I’m sure all of us are guilty of overwatered our plants? This can unfortunately cause root rot. Root rot turns your root system dark brown or black. When your indoor plant is suffering from root rot, it’ll be even more susceptible to other plant illnesses and will also have trouble absorbing water. The easiest way to fix this is by cutting off these damaged roots and relocating your plant to a new pot.

References

• https://plantsinabox.com.au/blogs/news/7-easy-steps-to-repotting-your-houseplants
• https://www.goodearthplants.com/when-should-i-repot-my-house-plants/
• https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/learn-more-about-repotting-houseplants.htm
• https://pistilsnursery.com/blogs/journal/how-to-re-pot-indoor-plants-and-5-reasons-why-you-should
• https://www.ourhouseplants.com/guides/repotting
• https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-repot-a-plant
• https://www.thesill.com/blogs/care-miscellaneous/plant-care-repotting