How to Transfer a Root-Bound Plant to a New Pot

As plants grow tall, their roots get long as well. If a plant is in a small pot, the roots can get bound up in a ball and prevent the plant from reaching its true potential. Transferring a root-bound plant to a new pot will bring new life and growth to your houseplants.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Root-bound plant
• Newspaper or drop cloth
• Moist potting soil
• Utility knife
• New pot
• Gardening gloves

1. Determine which plants are root-bound. Plants that are full size and recently purchased are usually root-bound if they are sold in their original plastic growing pot.

2. Gather the necessary supplies needed to complete the project.

3. Prepare a work station. If indoors, cover the floor or a table with newspaper or a drop cloth as this project will be messy. If outdoors, consider working in the grass as you should not need to clean up spilled soil off the grass.

4. Put on your gardening gloves and fill the larger pot about half full with moist potting soil.

5. Wrap your hand around the bottom stems of the root-bound plant.

6. Slowly turn the plant over while cradling the bottom of the plant in your hand. The plant should slide out of the old pot into your hand. You may have to twist or shake the pot gently to loosen it from the plant.

7. Keep the plant in one hand. With your other hand make 1/4 inch deep incisions along the edges of the root ball of the plant with the utility knife in a criss-cross pattern.
   

8. Gently separate the roots of the plant where you made the incisions. Only the roots around the edge of the root ball should be separated. Separating the roots will encourage them to grow into the new soil.

9. Turn the plant upright and place the root ball into the soil of the new pot. The top of the root ball should be about one half inch from the top of the new pot.

10. Pack more moist soil around the root ball until it can stand upright in the new pot.

11. Add water to the plant if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• The new pot should be about two to four inches larger than the current pot. It should also have a drain hole in the bottom to allow moisture flow.
• Consider using products in the potting soil that can retain moisture and fertilize the plant.
• Always use moist potting soil. It takes too long for dry potting soil to hold enough water.

[klnygaard]

on 7/26/2008 thank you for the article

[bhoconnor]

on 2/2/2008 A great help, loved learning the suggestion about cutting the roots some on the bottom to allow them to grow more! A great service this website, thanks much!!

[Faci81]

on 1/10/2008 Great step by step article for transfering root bound plants from pot to pot.
Very easy steps.