A hand holds a small white pot filled with the large foliage of philodendron brasil in front of a white background

Need to repot your houseplants? 

It's as easy as 1, 2 3! 

No really, repotting your houseplants doesn't have to be complicated. 

Here are my 3 must do's when repotting your houseplants.

1. Choose a pot with drainage holes, at least one size larger than the current Pot.

Your houseplants should always be potted into a pot with drainage holes so that water can escape. Most houseplants don't tolerate sitting in water for long periods so drainage is important. If you're using a pot without drainage holes, use it as a cover pot to house a nursery pot. 

When repotting, increasing the pot size gradually is recommended. Only increase the pot size by a few centimeters at a time. Potting up a plant to a significantly larger sized pot can be detrimental because the surrounding potting mix will hold onto moisture for longer until the roots move into it which can lead to rot. This also means the plant will concentrate more on growing its roots than its foliage. 

2. Use a good quality premium potting mix.

 When I first started collecting houseplants I would often buy the cheapest potting mix I could find. I thought all potting mix was the same and it didn't matter about the quality. But as I spent more and more money on houseplants, I realised the benefit of investing in good quality potting mix. I had less trouble with pests and gnats and my plants grew better. 

Now I make my own potting mix for my houseplants and it's just 2 simple ingredients. 

premium potting mix fills the top of the image while perlite fills the bottom half of the image,

Premium potting mix and perlite. Perlite is a volcanic mineral that is used as a soil additive to increase drainage and aeration in the potting mix. I adjust the ratio of perlite to potting mix depending on what I'm planting, but generally it's a 60/40 split. 

3. Water the plant straight away.

This is the most important step in my opinion. If you only do one of my 3 must do's when repotting your houseplants make sure it is this one! 

You want to water your plant straight away after repotting because this settles the mix and helps the roots settle into their new home. You can even use seaweed based soil conditioners in your water to help stimulate root growth and prevent stress from transplant shock. 

A person is holding a metal watering can in front of a houseplant

Always allow the plant to drain thoroughly before placing it back into it's home. 

Are you ready to learn more? 
Join my mini-course - How to get started with houseplants 
It's 5 self paced lessons that will arm you with the knowledge you need to be successful with plants.
ebook cover, an image of green houseplants in white pots with the title: A plant for any room, the beginners guide to bringing plants indoors by Rachel Okell Owner and Founder of Our Green Sanctuary. Featuring 5 ways you are torturing your houseplants and how to stop it in one day or less

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About the Author Rachel Okell

A self confessed plant nerd, Rachel loves indoor plants, tropical plants and learning about new plants. Rachel is currently working as a Horticulturist helping people solve problems, pick plants & plan gardens. The best part of her job is being surrounded by plants all day! Rachel has a deep appreciation for all things green & hopes to share her knowledge and passion to help people learn about plants.

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