Transplanting Potted Plants

Watering, fertilization, pruning, sunlight, and proper containment are all part of raising happy and healthy houseplants. Another crucial part of helping your plants maintain a healthy state of being is to ensure their root system has plenty of room grow. From time to time, transplanting is required to encourage new growth and prevent the demise of an otherwise thriving plant. Over time, the root system will get crowded and deplete the soil of its nutrients.

When to transplant

To find out whether your plant needs to be transplanted to a new pot, look for a few telltale signs. Roots growing out of drainage holes, tightly wound roots around the root ball, or the need for frequent re-watering are all signs that it is time to transplant. Transplant only as needed during the spring and summer months while the plant is actively growing. Don't try to repot a plant that is sick, dormant, or beginning to flower.

Preparing a new pot

Choose a pot that is about one or two inches larger than the pot you are transplanting from. If the pot has drainage holes, place a small shard of a clay pot over the holes to prevent soil from draining out. If there are no drainage holes, add about an inch of small pebbles or rock to the bottom of the pot to allow water to collect without rotting the roots. Do not add pebbles to pots with drainage holes, as it actually slows down the water flow from the pot. Place about an inch of soil into the pot and prepare your plant for removal.

Repotting your plant

Grasp your plant by the middle stem and gently tap the existing pot to loosen the root ball. It may help to water the plant a few hours prior to transplanting. Carefully remove the plant from the pot and loosen up the root ball with your hand. If the root ball is too tight to loosen easily, score the roots with a knife from top to bottom.

Place your plant into the new pot and evenly refill with soil, keeping the top of the root ball about an inch from the top. Only fill to the top of the existing root ball. Gently press the soil with your fingers, being careful not to pack the soil into the pot. Offer enough water so that it drains out the drainage holes.

Topdressing

For large plants that are impossible to transplant without major tools or equipment, topdressing is a way to offer new nutrients and keep the plant healthy. Simply remove about two or three inches of topsoil inside the pot and replace with fresh soil. Preformed every other year, topdressing should result in a happy and healthy plant.