When and how to repot a house plant, step by step

Roots fill a pot over time. Old soil packs down and loses air. A new pot with fresh mix gives the roots room and air.

This is general care advice. Check the label of your plant. Keep toxic plants away from pets and children.

What you need

Look for the signs. Roots come out of the holes. Roots circle the root ball. Water runs straight through. Soil dries in 1 to 2 days. Growth slows.
Repot in spring or early summer. The plant grows fast then and recovers quickly.
Do not repot in winter, or when a plant is sick or in bloom. Wait until the plant is well, or the flowers fade.
Water the plant one day before. A moist root ball comes out in one piece.
Choose a pot only 2 to 5 cm wider. A pot that is too large holds too much wet soil.
Tip the pot on its side. Ease the plant out. Do not pull it by the stem. Tap the pot rim on a table if the plant sticks.
Loosen the outer roots gently. Cut away dead or mushy roots with clean scissors. Unwind roots that circle.
Put a layer of fresh mix in the new pot. Set the plant at the same depth as before.
Fill around the root ball with fresh mix. Press gently. Do not pack it down.
Water slowly until water runs out of the holes. Empty the saucer after 15 to 30 minutes.
Do not feed for 4 to 6 weeks. Fresh mix has food. New roots are weak.

Answer the questions. The guide shows what to do.

Do roots come out of the holes, or does water run straight through?

A pot that is too large keeps the soil wet and can cause root rot.
Do not feed for 4 to 6 weeks after you repot.
Some plants, such as peace lilies and snake plants, flower or grow well when roots are snug. Do not repot them too early.

Fast growers need a new pot every year. Slow growers need one every 2 to 3 years. Look at the roots, not the calendar.

Pick a pot 2 to 5 cm wider than the old pot. A much larger pot holds too much wet soil.

Avoid it. Plants grow slowly in winter and recover slowly. Wait for spring unless the plant is sick with root rot.