How to Re-pot Plants

The first thing to consider when getting ready to repot a plant is the type of container. Some plants prefer clay (or terra-cotta) pots and others certainly don't mind being in plastic or ceramic. Understanding the way pots retain moisture will help in the decision of what types of containers to use to repot plants.

Clay and unglazed ceramic pots allow more air flow to the roots of plants which also allow the soil to dry out faster. This makes them a good choice to repot cactus and other succulents. Clay pots will need to be conditioned before used to repot plants. The clay is absorbent and will draw the water out of the soil. The terra-cotta pot will need to be completely immersed in water until it stops bubbling, indicating the air pockets in the porous clay are filled with water.

Plastic and glazed ceramic pots hold water in the soil longer. These are better choices to repot plants that prefer moist soil. Plastic is also a better choice if the pot is small. The smaller the pot the faster the soil will dry out.

Be especially careful when using decorative containers that don't have drainage holes in them. These types of pots make the soil easy to become waterlogged causing the roots to rot. Place a layer of pebbles in the bottom of the container before adding the soil and plant. This will give the water a place to drain away from the soil and will help to prevent root rot.

Most standard pots do have drainage holes in the bottom which is a better choice for those with less experience growing plants. This type does allow the excess water to drain away but the soil will also drain from the holes. It's easy to prevent this by placing something over the drainage hole that will still allow the water to drain while keeping the soil in the pot. The easiest thing to use is a paper coffee filter and then cover it with pebbles or with shards from a broken pot. A small piece of screening material will also work.

Buy a good quality potting soil that's formulated for container plants. Cheap potting soil is not an option to repot container plants. It doesn't have enough drainage material in the soil and compacts when it's wet. The soil used to repot plants is the foundation for their growth and is an important factor to their survival.

Potting soils can be custom mixed but it is usually not cost effective or worth the extra work involved, unless there is a large quantity of plants to repot. Besides, there are so many good quality potting soils on the market especially formulated for container plants. These will be lightweight with peat moss as the main ingredient.

1. Now it's time to repot. Choose the appropriate size container for the plant. The new pot usually needs to increase only slightly in size from its old pot or about an inch more in diameter. If it's propagated cuttings that are ready to be planted, then a small 4 or 5-inch container will be large enough.

2. Place the coffee filter over the drainage holes (if needed) and then a layer of pea gravel or small stones. Another great option for drainage in the bottom of the container is foam packing peanuts. These are especially helpful for a large indoor plant since they won't add any weight. The opposite is true for an outdoor plant which needs extra weight for wind protection. For small pots, about an inch of drainage material is sufficient. Large pots will need two or three inches of pebbles or foam peanuts.

3. Fill about one-third of the new container with potting soil, packing it lightly with your fingers. Remove the plant from its old pot by turning it upside down and tapping it. If it doesn't loosen easily, carefully run a knife between the pot and the soil. Sometimes this job can require two people if the plant and pot are large and it's difficult to remove. One person will hold the pot down while someone pulls the plant's root-ball out of the old pot.

4. Always check the level of plant before adding more soil. Set the root-ball in the pot to see if the new soil level will be the same as it was in the old pot, adjust the soil in the bottom of the pot if necessary. Also be sure the new soil level in the pot will leave about an inch below the pot rim. This will give enough space to water the plant without the water running over the edge of the rim.

5. Center the plant in the new pot and fill between the root-ball and the pot with soil, lightly pressing as you go. Continue this process of adding soil and pressing it down until it's level with the top of the root-ball.

6. Water the newly repotted plant slowly but thoroughly. Sometimes the new potting soil around the edges will sink after being watered. Add more potting soil if necessary. It will take the plant some time to adjust to its home and for the roots to begin to grow into their newly expanded environment.