Some potting soil (equivalent to 1/2 the pot volume)

Some drainage materials (gravel or sand)

Any fertilizers

A good-sized serrated knife

Some newspapers to cover the floor

Optional:

Some gardening gloves

15 minutes

Potbound: describes a plant in need of potting on: the roots have poked past the potting mixture, have collected or begun to spiral.

Root ball: the root system and the soil it lives in.

Topdressing: the removal of a few inches of old topsoil, and its replacement with fresh potting material.

Do several plants at a time, as long as you're making a mess. If removing (ouch) a cactus, cover with a piece of paper to protect your hand.

For brand-new pots: Ceramic pots are porous- meaning they will allow water through if untreated. They need to be waterlogged before they'll hold water. So, submerge the pot and watch for tiny air bubbles to rise to the surface. When the bubbles stop rising, your pot is ready.

2torial #0517: Learn2 Repot a Houseplant Time to move on? You wouldn't enjoy sleeping in a crib, but you expect your plants to grow big and beautiful while squatting in a pot from their childhood. The restrictions of cramped pot life can dry a plant's roots, sending them down through the bottom of the pot or up to the topsoil which makes for stunted or choked greenery. There are two solutions to this travesty: the first is repotting, which involves removing the plant and replacing the potting soil, and the second is potting on, or moving the plant to a larger pot. Pick a good time of year to do this. The beginning of the growing season is best, since the growing roots will tap the new potting soil. If possible, work with several plants at a time to consolidate your efforts. Make sure the pots are all clean, and water the plant an hour before to soften the soil. This will prevent spillage and will help the plant to slide out easily. Finally, lay down the newspapers. Remove the original pot For smaller pots: Lightly tap the sides of the pot. Then place the palm of your hand on the root ball (the root system and soil), holding the main stems between your fingers. Stand, sit, or kneel over the newspaper. Holding the root ball so that nothing slips through, turn the plant upside down and tap on the sides and bottom of the pot. The plant should slip smoothly from its former home into your cupped hand. For larger pots: Insert a flat stick or blunt knife between the pot and the soil and work it around the circumference of the pot. While holding the plant with one hand, lay it on its side and tap a bit more firmly as you rotate the pot. If it's sticky, use a wooden block to tap the exterior of the pot, to dislodge the root ball from the pot. When you're sure the plant is loose, slide it out slowly from the pot onto the newspaper you've laid out. Choose your method of transfer To evaluate whether you need to repot or pot on, you need to remove the plant from its present home. Once out of the pot, examine the root system. Is it time for potting on? If the roots have poked past the potting mixture, have collected or begun to spiral, it has become potbound. You need a larger pot. If none of these symptoms are present, take the repotting option. Use the same pot. Caution: Don't repot or pot on just after the growing season, because the roots won't tap the new soil and old roots may rot. Also, if the plant is unhealthy, don't replant--that may be too great a shock for it. Prepare the new home Pick any moss or greenery from the top of the root ball. Discard. For repotting, you may need some space for the new potting mixture. To make the space, you'll prune the roots by trimming thin slices off the root ball. Use a serrated knife, sawing gently on each side or around the circumference. Take at least a half-inch off smaller plants. Place in the new home Repotting: Remember, if new roots are visible on the exterior of the root ball, or are spiraled around, consider potting on (see below), not repotting. Line your cleaned, original pot with drainage material. Use one-half inch to three or four inches of gravel or sand, depending on the side of the plant and pot. Place your newly trimmed root ball in the pot. Scoop on some fresh potting soil and gently push it down the sides of the pot with your fingers. Pack the soil and water the plant lightly.   Potting on: Do you want to pot on? Are you sure? Smaller plants prefer a smaller pot, so potting on will not aid their cause. So, if it's a small plant or shows no signs of being potbound, return to repotting (see above). Line the pot with drainage materials as in repotting. Cover the bottom with additional potting soil to bring the plant to its original level. Are you using a brand-new pot? See Tips. Create a mould for your plant by placing the original pot inside the new one. Using your fingers, slide in potting soil to fill the gap between the inner and outer pots. Remove the original pot from the soil and replace it with your plant. Fill in any gaps and lightly water the plant. Learn the art of topdressing No, no, not cross-dressing. Topdressing is for well-established plants that have outgrown previous homes yet have no larger pots available. It's is an important step, especially if you're not repotting. Even without a larger home, the plants will benefit from the refreshed nutrient base that topdressing provides. Do it for your plant about once a year. Carefully remove the top few inches of soil. Replace with new potting soil.   -end- Learn More!