Gather a pot with drainage holes only a little larger than the old one, fresh potting mix suited to the plant, and some newspaper. If you reuse an old pot, scrub it clean first.
1. Water the plant beforehand; Brooklyn Botanic Garden suggests anything from about 15 minutes to a few hours ahead, which helps reduce shock.
2. Put a layer of slightly moist mix in the new pot, so the top of the root ball will sit about 1 to 2.5 cm (half an inch to an inch) below the rim. That gap leaves room for water.
3. Tip the old pot on its side, support the plant at the base and slide it out. Tap the rim; do not pull on the stem.
4. Look at the roots. Cut off any that are black and mushy. Gently unwind roots that circle the outside so they grow outward into new mix.
5. Set the plant in the centre at the same depth it grew before. Fill around the sides with mix and tap the pot to settle it; do not ram it down hard.
6. Water until it drains, then let it drain fully. Top up with a little mix if it sinks.
Afterwards, put the plant back in its usual spot rather than moving it at the same time, and keep the mix moist but not soggy. Many potting mixes already contain some fertiliser, so check the bag before adding any feed.
Key points
- Water beforehand and handle the plant by the root ball, not the stem.
- Trim rotten roots, loosen circling ones, and keep the same planting depth.
- Water in well, then give the plant a gentle few weeks.
Try this
Before you repot anything, set up your kit: a clean pot with holes, fresh mix, newspaper and clean scissors. Then choose one plant that showed clear root-bound signs.
Check yourself
Read more in the reference
Sources
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