Keeping plants alive is one thing, but knowing exactly when (and more importantly how) to repot a plant requires a whole new level of indoor gardening know-how. The right gardening tools are required, of course, but it turns out you don’t necessarily need a green thumb in order to properly repot your most hard-earned indoor houseplants.
According to Joyce Mast, Bloomscape’s resident “Plant Mom,” the act of repotting even the hardiest of indoor plants can be done in a matter of 15 minutes. Keep your most beloved indoor plants thriving with our how-to guide that details how to repot a plant without the fuss (or mess).
Indoor Gardening Tools
- 1 pot (preferably one that’s approximately 2 inches larger than the pot you’re currently using)
- Sharp scissors or pruning shears
- Fresh potting soil
- 1 old sheet
Determine If Your Plant Needs a New Home
A surefire sign your plant needs to be repotted is the presence of visible roots. Once plant roots make their unwanted presence known along the top of the soil (or if you witness a root growing through the drainage hole on the bottom of a pot), get your gardening tools ready.
“That’s a sign that your plant is root-bound and needs more space,” says Mast.
Another clue that your plant babies are in desperate need of a new home: If water rushes through the pot and out the drainage hole upon giving your plants a drink. According to Mast, this means that the roots are taking up too much real estate within the pot, resulting in a less-than-stellar soil-to-root ratio.
