When and how should you repot a houseplant?
Inspect the roots and growing mix before deciding to repot. A crowded root ball may need more room; replacing tired mix may be enough in other cases.
Sources checked on
Read the guidePlant guides for “Repotting”
Practical help for your plants: what to check first and how to decide what comes next.
18 matching guides
Which potting mix is right for your houseplant?
Repotting should solve a specific need.
Sources checked on
Read the guideOverwatered houseplant: what to do next
For more on choosing a pot and potting mix, see Repotting houseplants. If yellowing is the main symptom, use the checks in Yellow leaves .
Sources checked on
Read the guideIndoor azalea care: Moist roots, no water left in the outer pot
Repot only when needed. Once new growth starts, consider a modest feed, following the label and allowing for fertilizer already in the mix. Keep the roots moist.
Sources checked on
Read the guideAmaryllis care: From the first shoot to life after flowering
A closed decorative container needs a suitable inner pot; our repotting guide explains the basics.
Sources checked on
Read the guideRoot stem cuttings in water and move them into potting mix
Related guides for your next step For more on pots and potting mix, see Repotting houseplants. For choosing a suitably bright growing position, read Light for houseplants.
Sources checked on
Read the guideHow to bring your houseplants indoors safely in autumn
Do not automatically add a complete overhaul Do not repot a healthy plant just because autumn has arrived.
Sources checked on
Read the guideMold on potting mix: remove the growth and check the cause
If replacing the potting mix is necessary, follow the steps in Repotting houseplants. If small flies also appear around the pot, read Fungus gnats .
Sources checked on
Read the guideYour houseplant is losing leaves – here’s what helps
Do I need to repot the plant now? Leaf drop alone does not call for repotting. What you find in the pot matters. Rotten roots or persistently unsuitable potting mix may need addressing.
Sources checked on
Read the guideHow to water houseplants: Let the pot decide, not the calendar
Reassess after moving a plant closer to a window or repotting it. For a species-specific example, see watering a monstera .
Sources checked on
Read the guideWhen should you fertilize a houseplant?
After repotting, read the mix label before adding another product.
Sources checked on
Read the guideHow do you look after plants while on holiday?
Do not repot into an unfamiliar self-watering system just before a short trip.
Sources checked on
Read the guidePoinsettia care: Help it through the holidays
If you want to grow it on, plan pruning and any necessary repotting for spring rather than an impromptu Christmas overhaul. New colourful bracts depend on long, uninterrupted nights.
Sources checked on
Read the guideWhite fluff on your plant: how to deal with mealybugs
Should I repot immediately? Not for every leaf infestation. Investigate roots when there is reason for suspicion. Confirmed root mealybugs need a different approach from isolated insects on shoots.
Sources checked on
Read the guideYour Phalaenopsis has finished flowering – what next?
Assess the medium and feeding before repotting The end of flowering alone does not require a new pot. Check for degraded bark, poor drainage or genuinely inadequate root space.
Sources checked on
Read the guideThrips on houseplants: why one round is rarely enough
Is repotting enough to remove thrips? No. It cannot reach eggs or insects on leaves. Moreover, not every species develops its later stages in the growing medium. Is an empty sticky trap a good sign?
Sources checked on
Read the guideIndoor cyclamen care: Keep it cool and get watering right
Does a cyclamen need repotting as soon as flowering finishes? No. A healthy plant does not automatically need a larger pot after its last flower.
Sources checked on
Read the guideWhich water should you use for your houseplants?
Use a local water report rather than general water myths. Find out whether the tap is downstream of a sodium softener. Choose a clean, suitable low-mineral source if needed.
Sources checked on
Read the guide
Make room for more green.
Your plants, your favourite companion, and a little routine to look forward to. All in Plantly.
Free to start. Optional Premium. iPhone version coming soon.
