How to Repot House Plants

These are a few simple tips to repot house plants without stressing them much.

Things You'll Need

• New larger pot.
• Pebbles
• Potting soil

Instructions

1. It is best to repot a plant as it grows before it becomes rootbound. Choose a pot that is larger than what you have now, but not too large. If you repot into a too large pot the plant will spend way too much energy sending out new roots and not grow foliage well.

2. 

   Put a layer of pebbles, small stones, or pea gravel in the bottom of the pot. For small pots 1/2 inch should be enough. For 10 inch or larger and inch too 3 inches will work well. This will allow proper drainage. Put a few larger pebbles around the drain holes so small ones don't fall trough.

3. 

   Cover the pebbles with moistened potting soil. Tamp it down slightly. Don't compress it too much. Firm it enough that it won't settle greatly later. Fill to to a level that will allow the transplanted root ball to be 1/2 to one inch below the rim of the pot.

4. Turn the old pot and plant upside down and gently tap the plant and existing soil out. Center the plant and root ball with soil in the center of the new pot. Hold it in place with one hand and fill new potting soil in the space around it. Firm the soil in place lightly.

5. 

   Water well from the top or set the plant in a deep dish of water to draw from the bottom for an hour or so. Let the plant drain, then place it in indirect light for a few days to adjust to its new home. After a few days put in in the amount of light it is normally used to.