Is the thought of repotting your overgrown plant uprooting your life? We get it and we got you. It can feel so wrong to remove your thriving plant from its cozy spot, but growth requires change. As spring approaches, now is a great time to consider upsizing your plant pot. Before you take that leap of faith, give these three tips a read to optimize your chances for a fuss-free transition.

 

When it comes to selecting your plant’s future home, fight the urge rush them into a big boy pot. A big pot doesn’t always equal a big plant. Typically you’ll want to size up about 2 inches in diameter to let your plant gradually grow into its container. Imagine if when you outgrew your childhood shoes your parents decided to save some time and money and bought you three sizes too big. Now that wouldn’t be very comfy. Think: room to pinch at the toe. Most plants like to feel a little snug in their pots, like a swaddled green baby. If your plant is especially root bound, you could consider going up one more size (4 inches).

This is it! Here we go! You’ll want to gently lift your plant out of its current pot. Put some newspaper or plastic down on the floor to minimize mess and lean you plant on its side. Now, tap, tap, tap the side, and give it a little shimmy. Some plants can get pretty attached to their pots and really don’t seem to want to leave without a fight. If that’s sounding like your situation and things are getting pretty precarious, it could be decision time: who are you saving? The plant or the pot? If you’ve chosen ‘plant’ and it’s still in a growers/nursery pot you can cut down the side to free your friend. If it’s in a ceramic pot, it might be time to grab a hammer.   

Once separated from the original pot, gently loosen any very compacted roots with your fingers. Put a little bit of soil (sold in store for $9.99/2L bag) in your new pot of choice, and place your plant inside.

Hold you plant steady and centered with one hand while you fill soil all around with the other. Don’t compact the soil too much. Let it breathe.

 

 

You soil will likely settle down after a few weeks of watering. At this point, you can add more soil to the top.

We recommend choosing a plastic growers pot that fits nicely inside of a decorative pot, rather than planting directly into your ceramic pot. This is because the plastic nursery pots have holes for aeration and drainage. (Recall: Let it breathe.) By using your ceramic pot like a decorative pot cover, you can achieve fashion AND function for your plant. However, if your pot doesn’t have holes that’s certainly okay. Just be mindful when watering! Now that your plant is in a bigger pot with more soil, the moisture will be held a little longer. Listen to your plant and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. New home can mean new care needs.

Good luck and god speed.