Word of Advice!  Before you begin repotting your plant, be sure to do a tiny bit of research and google if your houseplant likes to be root-bound.  If I was thinking about repotting my peace lily, I’d first search “Does a peace lily like to be root-bound?”.  In general, most houseplants prefer to be in smaller pots and a little bit root-bound.  Why?  Because it allows for all the roots to easily receive water rather than the water to be lost in large amounts of soil. 

A common misconception is that a bigger pot will encourage your plant to grow and fill up this larger pot.  This generally will not work and your plant will be happier in it’s small pot until it’s showing signs of being ready for a bigger one.

Signs You Need To Repot Your Plant

   If you’re not sure you need to repot your plant, look for these signs to help you out.

  1. The roots excessively coming out of drainage holes

  2. The roots wrapping up around at the surface of the soil

  3. The soil is incredibly compacted

  4. You haven’t replaced the soil in a long time

 

Steps to Repotting Your Plant

    Once you’ve determined that your plant really does need to be repotted you can begin with the steps below;

  1. Remove the plant from it’s pot.
  2. Tease out the roots at the base with a pencil or chopstick.  Be gentle but don’t worry if you break through a few roots here and there.
  3. Get your new larger pot and fill it with 2-3 inches of new soil.
  4. Place your plant with it’s loosened roots into the center of your new pot.
  5. Start filling in soil all around the edges of your plant until the pot is filled up to 1-2 inches below the rim of the pot.
  6. Press down the soil firmly and water the plant thoroughly.
  7. Admire your plant and tell it that it looks great. 🙂

 

     Due to the stress of undergoing repotting, your plant may lose a leaf or two but it should bounce back just fine.  I hope this was helpful in repotting your indoor plant and will help you years down the road as you tend to your plants!

    If you want to hear about these tips in more detail, listen to our podcast, Plant School, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or most any other podcast listening platform.

Categories: Basics, Indoor Plant Care, Repotting