PlantWhy

How to repot a plant: when and how, step by step

Potted plants slowly fill their containers with roots, and the potting mix loses its nutrients and structure over time. Repotting at the right moment and in the right way gives a plant room to grow again. This guide walks you through every step, from spotting the signs to caring for the plant afterwards.

How to repot a plant: when and how, step by step
Photo: User:SB_Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Difficulty
Easy
Time
15–30 minutes per plant (estimated)
Best time
Spring, as growth starts
How often
Every 1–3 years for most plants (estimated)

When does a plant need repotting?

Go by the plant's signals, not the calendar. It is time if you see one or more of these:

  • Roots growing out of the drainage hole or circling on top of the soil.
  • Water runs straight through: once the pot is packed with roots, there is little soil left to hold water, so it drains out in seconds and the plant dries out fast.
  • Growth has stalled: no new leaves during the growing season, or new leaves are getting smaller.
  • Tired soil: the mix is hard, shrinking away from the pot sides, crusted with white salts, or drying out very quickly.
  • The plant is top-heavy and tips over easily.
A spider plant that has filled its pot with roots: there is hardly any soil left to see.
A spider plant that has filled its pot with roots: there is hardly any soil left to see. Photo: Keith Williamson, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The best time: spring

The best time to repot is spring and early summer. The plant is actively growing then, so its roots spread quickly into the fresh mix and it recovers fast.

Avoid repotting in winter, when most houseplants are resting; roots recover slowly and wet soil is more likely to cause rot. It is also wise to wait until a plant has finished flowering. Emergencies are the exception: root rot or a broken pot can't wait for spring.

Choosing the new pot

  • One size up: choose a pot 1–2 in wider than the old one (estimated). In a much larger pot, the soil the roots can't reach stays wet and can lead to rot.
  • A drainage hole is a must: without one, excess water collects at the bottom. If you love a pot without a hole, use it as a cover pot and keep the plant in a plastic nursery pot inside it.
  • If you reuse an old pot, scrub it with hot, soapy water first.

Plastic

  • Light and inexpensive.
  • Holds moisture longer, so you water less often.
  • Good for moisture-loving plants and forgetful waterers.

Terracotta

  • Porous: water evaporates through the walls.
  • Soil dries faster, which forgives overwatering.
  • Ideal for succulents, cacti and plants that like to dry out.

Glazed ceramic

  • Heavy and sturdy, so tall plants don't tip over.
  • Waterproof, holds moisture like plastic.
  • Decorative, but check that it has a drainage hole.

Choosing soil for your plant

Garden soil compacts in a pot and suffocates roots, so always use a mix made for containers. Match the mix to where the plant grows naturally:

General houseplants

  • Ready-made potting mix
  • A little perlite for drainage
  • E.g. pothos, spider plant, peace lily

Succulents and cacti

  • Cactus mix
  • Plenty of perlite, pumice or grit
  • E.g. aloe vera, echeveria, haworthia

Orchids and epiphytes

  • Bark-based orchid mix
  • No regular potting soil
  • E.g. moth orchid

What you need

  • A new pot with a drainage hole
  • Fresh potting mix suited to the plant
  • Clean, sharp scissors or pruners
  • A trowel or scoop
  • Gloves and newspaper or a sheet to work on
  • A piece of mesh for the hole, so soil doesn't wash out (optional)
  • A watering can

How to repot, step by step

Roots of a palm kept too long in one pot have circled into the exact shape of the container.
Roots of a palm kept too long in one pot have circled into the exact shape of the container. Photo: B137, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
  1. Water the plant the day before. A moist root ball slides out more easily and the roots tear less.
  2. Put a layer of fresh mix in the bottom of the new pot. Once the plant sits in it, the top of the root ball should be about ½–1 in below the rim.
  3. Tip the pot on its side, hold the plant at the base of its stems and tap the pot to slide the root ball out. Squeeze a plastic pot or run a knife around the edge if it sticks.
  4. Inspect the roots. Healthy roots are firm and light in color. Cut off any brown, mushy or bad-smelling roots with clean scissors.
  5. Gently tease apart roots that have circled into the shape of the pot. If they are very tight, make a few shallow vertical cuts down the sides of the root ball.
  6. Set the plant in the center of the new pot at the same depth it grew before. Don't bury the stem deeper.
  7. Fill in around the sides with fresh mix, pressing lightly to remove air pockets without packing it hard.
  8. Water until it runs out of the drainage hole. Top up the mix if it settles and empty the saucer.

Aftercare

  • Shade: for the first 1–2 weeks keep the plant out of direct sun, in bright, indirect light (estimated).
  • Watering: water when the top of the soil is dry; fresh mix holds moisture, so it needs less water at first.
  • Hold off on fertilizer: fresh mix already contains nutrients, and damaged roots can be burned by feeding. Wait 4–6 weeks (estimated).
  • Don't keep moving the plant around; let it settle in.

⚠️ A little drooping right after repotting is normal. Don't mistake it for thirst and overwater, as that can lead to root rot.

Common problems and fixes

Transplant shock: leaves yellowing or droppingThe roots are adjusting. Keep the plant in shade, water lightly but regularly and don't fertilize. Most plants recover in 2–4 weeks (estimated).
Leaves and stems droopingNormal in the first days. If the soil is wet, don't water; reduce light and wait. If the soil is dry, water thoroughly once.
Soil stays wet for daysThe pot is too big or the mix too dense. Water less; if it continues, move to a smaller pot and an airier mix.
Roots are rotten and smell badCut away all rotten roots, replant the healthy part in fresh, barely moist mix and hold off watering for a few days.

Refreshing soil without repotting

If a plant is already the size you want, or too big to move, you don't have to give it a bigger pot. Refreshing the soil also revives it:

  • Top-dressing: scoop out the top 1–2 in of soil and replace it with fresh mix (estimated). Once a year is enough for large pots.
  • Root pruning into the same pot: lift the plant out, shake off old soil, trim about 1 in from the outside of the root ball all round, and replant in the same pot with fresh mix.
  • If you prune the roots, removing some foliage too helps balance the load on the plant.

Frequently asked questions

When should I fertilize after repotting?

Fresh mix has enough nutrients. Wait 4–6 weeks and return to your normal routine once the plant starts putting out new leaves (estimated).

Should I put gravel in the bottom of the pot?

No. A gravel layer doesn't improve drainage; it can actually keep water sitting in the root zone longer. What matters is a drainage hole and an airy mix.

Can I repot in winter?

Wait for spring if you can. In emergencies such as root rot or a broken pot, go ahead in winter and water sparingly afterwards.

How much bigger should the new pot be?

Just one size up, about 1–2 in wider than the old pot (estimated). More than that keeps the soil wet for too long.

Plants that often need repotting

Spider PlantPothosMonsteraPeace lilyFiddle-Leaf FigAloe VeraSnake PlantOrchid

Sources

Last updated: 2 November 2026