When and How to Repot Your Plants Without the Stress

Repotting sounds like surgery. It is really just moving a plant into a roomier home and done right, it gives a tired plant a whole new lease of life.

Signs it is time

• Roots creeping out of the drainage hole
• Water runs straight through without soaking in
• The plant is top-heavy or tips over easily
• Growth has slowed despite good care

The best time is spring or early summer, when plants are growing and recover fast.

Choose the right pot

Go just one size up two to five centimetres wider. A pot that is too big holds excess water and invites root rot.

Always pick a pot with a drainage hole. Terracotta breathes well for plants that like to dry out; a self-watering pot suits thirstier plants.

The five-minute method

• Water the plant a day before it slides out more easily
• Gently ease it out and loosen the outer roots with your fingers
• Trim any mushy, black or circling roots with clean shears
• Add fresh potting mix to the new pot, set the plant at the same depth
• Fill around the sides, firm gently and water it in

Aftercare

A repotted plant may sulk for a week or two that is normal. Keep it out of harsh sun, hold off on fertiliser for a month, and water only when the soil dries.

That is the whole job. A sharp tool set, the right pot and five unhurried minutes and your plant has room to grow again. If you would rather not, our maintenance team repots as part of every visit.