How to repot your plant

How to repot your plant - Green Bubble

Repotting is an important step in caring for your plants. It gives them the space and the nutrients they need to grow well.

Over time, plants fill their current pot with roots. When the roots get too cramped they have no room to stretch out, which can hold the plant back. Repotting into a larger pot gives the plant more room to grow and more chance to develop further.
The nutrients in the potting soil also run out over time. Repotting is your opportunity to add fresh potting soil, which is rich in nutrients and drains better. On top of that, repotting lets you inspect the roots straight away. Dead or damaged roots can be removed, which does the overall health of the plant a world of good.

Below are our tips on the best way to repot your plant.

What you need:

  • A new pot, slightly larger than the plant's current one (we recommend 20% larger).
  • Fresh potting soil suited to the specific needs of your type of plant.
  • A small trowel or spoon.
  • Waterproof inner liner.
  • Vulcastrat or clay pebbles.
  • Water level indicator or moisture meter.
  1. Pick the right moment. The best time to repot a plant is usually in spring, when it is starting to grow actively and can recover quickly.
  2. Make sure the new pot is clean and tidy. Put the waterproof inner liner in the pot and lay a layer of Vulcastrat or clay pebbles on the bottom (about 2-3 centimetres). If you are using a water level indicator, put it in now. If you are using a moisture meter, leave that until the last step.
  3. Carefully remove the plant from its old pot by holding it upside down and gently tapping the rim. If the plant does not come away easily, gently pull on the top of the root ball or loosen it with a trowel or spoon. If the roots are very tightly packed, you can tease them apart a little to encourage root growth.
  4. Place the plant in the new pot. First put a layer of fresh potting soil on top of the Vulcastrat or clay pebbles. Then set the plant in the middle of the pot and fill the space around the root ball with new potting soil, so the plant sits at the same depth as in its old pot.
  5. Press the potting soil down gently to get rid of air bubbles and make sure the plant stands firmly.
  6. Water the plant generously to moisten the potting soil and close up any air pockets. If you are using a water level indicator, you can measure and follow the moisture level with it.
  7. If you are using a moisture meter instead of a water level indicator, push it into the potting soil once a week. Important: do not leave the meter in the potting soil, because it can rust. That affects how the meter works, so it no longer measures accurately. Every week, before you water, check carefully how moist the soil is throughout the pot. If it is still damp, hold off on watering.
  8. Once it is repotted, put the plant in the right spot with the right light and watering conditions. Give it some time to recover before you water or feed it again. From March to September you give plant food once a week, and from September to March once every two months.

Repotting a plant is an important bit of care and it is worth doing with attention and a gentle hand. That is how you keep your plant healthy and happy!