Repot indoor plants: Time & instructions

Indoor plants bring nature into our homes and with the right care you can enjoy them for a long time. Among other things, regular repotting of indoor plants is important.

Repotting indoor plants is not that difficult. If you follow a few important tips, the green darlings will quickly sprout again and growth will be stimulated. Here we show you how to repot and when it's time to change the pot.

When should indoor plants be repotted?

The best time to repot is in spring between February and April. Then the growth period begins and your indoor plants can immediately take root in the new substrate and sprout again. Before winter, it is also possible to repot indoor plants. In special cases, for example if there is a pest infestation, it can also be repotted at a different time of the year.

Key Signs It's Time to Repot:

• If the roots of the plant are already lifting out of the pot or growing out of the bottom of the drainage hole.
• When white limescale and s alt deposits bloom on the substrate surface.
• When the soil collapses and irrigation water simply rolls off the root ball, making it difficult to wet it.
• If plant growth is stunted or symptoms of deficiency occur.

• If there is a pest infestation - especially pests in the substrate such as fungus gnats, but also nuisances such as springtails, which can multiply uncontrollably.
• Newly purchased plants should always be repotted soon, as they are often sold in pots that are too small and soil that only lasts for a short time.
• If the plant has formed many offshoots that can develop better with a little space and should therefore be isolated.

Tip: Be careful with plants that are sensitive to disturbance, such as citrus plants or the violin fig. Because these plants react stressed to being repotted,they are rarely repotted. Even slow-growing plants like cacti and other succulents rarely need a new pot.

Which soil is suitable for repotting indoor plants?

If you are wondering which soil is suitable when repotting indoor plants, this of course depends primarily on the plant itself. We give you a brief overview of which substrate is suitable for which plant group:

Universal soil:
A universal soil can be used for all indoor plants that do not make any special demands on their substrate. Universal soil is suitable, for example, for elephant ear, lychee tree, sweetheart flower, flamingo flower and window leaf, single leaf, porcelain flower, basket maranth or climbing philodendron.
Our Plantura organic universal soil is a high-quality and environmentally friendly soil for your plants. Their pH in the range of 6.1 to 6.9 is suitable for many indoor plants. It naturally contains all the important nutrients that plants need for a good start to growth.

Tip: Universal soil also usually forms the basis for substrate mixtures that you can make for houseplants with more specific requirements, such as cactus soil.

Pot: Potting compost is usually suitable for flowering plants such as cyclamen, hyacinth, crown of glory, blood flower, cylinder brush, pelargonium or hibiscus. So if you have indoor plants that develop a special bloom and not only shine with green foliage, it is best to use potting soil. High-quality substrates, such as our Plantura organic potting soil, are also recommended here. Potting soil usually contains a little more phosphate than the universal soil and thus particularly promotes the flowering of the plants.

Succulent and cactus soil: Succulents and cacti such as aloe vera or haworthia need a substrate that is well-draining and well-drained to prevent waterlogging. You can easily mix such a substrate yourself. The basis for this is universal soil, which should make up half of the mixture. There is also about 20% quartz sand. The rest is a mixture of pumice and broken expanded clay. This mixture is also ideal for cacti.

Palm soil: Palms such as golden fruit palm or kentia palm also need a slightly more permeable substrate. Of course there are many different types of palm treesfrom the most diverse regions, which in turn have their own requirements. In principle, however, about a third of quartz sand should be mixed into the universal earth for better permeability. Also, because palms love a slightly lower pH, it's a good idea to add some acidic soil.

Herbal soil: For Mediterranean kitchen herbs on the balcony and windowsill, it is best to use special herbal soil. Rosemary, thyme, lavender, savory, and marjoram thrive on well-drained, nutrient-poor soil and taste more aromatic when grown in it. A sustainable soil for your Mediterranean kitchen herbs is, for example, our Plantura organic herb and seed soil, which does not require peat and is therefore produced with CO₂ reduced.

Tip: Basil, parsley, chives, dill, mint, lovage and wild garlic need a nutrient-rich substrate - they will find what they need for he althy growth in a rich universal soil. Some plants, such as orchids or carnivores, need a very special substrate that is not so easy to mix yourself. The best thing to do here is to use a special soil that is precisely tailored to the needs of these plant groups. In our articles you can find out about the substrate requirements of a wide variety of indoor plants.

How big should the new pot be?

If there is still space between the root ball and the old pot, but there are other reasons for repotting, a larger pot is not necessary, just fresh substrate. If the pot is fully rooted, the new pot should be a maximum of three sizes larger than the old one. Ideally, there should be about 3 cm of space between the root ball and the edge of the new pot.

The repotting of bonsai is a special case, as these should often remain small. After a root cut, they are then simply planted in their old pot or in a container that is only slightly larger.

Tip: If the new pot is too big, the plant will have less support and there will be a lot of moist substrate around the roots, making root rot easier can.

Instructions: repot indoor plants correctly

We have put together a brief step-by-step guide on how to repot your houseplants correctly:

1. If it is apoisonous or prickly houseplant, you should definitely put on gloves before repotting. To repot large indoor plants, you can carefully lay the plant on its side. Then repotting is easier.
2. First, check if the plant needs a larger pot. To do this, carefully lift the plant out of the container and assess the root ball.
3. Prepare the new pot by placing a layer of potsherds, pebbles or expanded clay on the bottom of the pot. This way the water can drain off better.
   Tip: If you place a fleece between the substrate and the drainage layer, everything stays cleanly separated and you can reuse the drainage material.
4. Put a layer of substrate in the pot. At this point, a granular fertilizer can also be mixed in, which provides the plant with long-term nutrients.
5. Lift the plant out of its container and remove as much old soil from the root ball as possible. You can also gently fluff up the roots with your fingers and cut off rotten roots. If the drainage hole is so heavily rooted that the plant can no longer be removed, it is best to cut open the pot with scissors.
6. Now place the plant in the new pot and fill in the edges with soil. Leave about 3 cm of space around the edge of the pot so that the pot does not overflow when watering.
7. Now you can gently tap the pot on the table a few times to distribute the soil in the gaps. Then gently press the substrate.
8. Finally, you should water the soil so that the substrate is nice and moist.
9. Cover the substrate surface with a layer of mulch to prevent mold growth on the soil and to prevent fungus gnat infestation.

Tip: Some plants can also be divided when repotting: To do this, carefully separate the plant at the root ball and then plant the two parts in two separate pots.

Care after repotting

You should note the following after repotting: If you removed part of the roots when repotting because of pest infestation or root rot, the above-ground parts of the plant should also be cut back slightly. Otherwise, the roots may not be able to provide enough water for the plants.
After repotting, it is best not to place the plant in direct sunlight to avoid drought stress.

The fresh earthprovides the houseplant with the necessary nutrients after repotting. Therefore, in the first two months it is only necessary to water regularly so that the root ball does not dry out. About eight months after repotting, you can then add some fertilizer to the substrate again. Depending on the plant group, the nutrient requirements differ:

Green Plant Fertilizer: Plants that stand out mainly because of their foliage need Green Plant Fertilizer, which strengthens leaves and roots. Our Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer, for example, meets these requirements. In addition to the important nutrient elements nitrogen and potassium, the microorganisms contained also support the growth of your plant. This fertilizer is suitable for monstera or anthurium, for example.

Flowering Plant Fertilizer: Plants that form flowers, such as geraniums and amaryllis, require a different nutrient composition than green plants. Our Plantura organic flower & balcony plant fertilizer is particularly suitable for flowers and is 100% organic. And that's good for both your plants and the environment.

Mediterranean Fertilizer: Mediterranean plants or citrus plants need a different combination of nutrients for the development of their fruits and often a lot of potassium and iron. These nutrients are contained in sufficient quantities in special Mediterranean fertilizers, such as our Plantura Organic Citrus & Mediterranean Fertilizer. Our fertilizer also contains microorganisms that support and sustainably stimulate vigorous root growth. It is suitable for all citrus plants, for example lemon trees, but also olive trees.

How often and how much you need to fertilize and water depends entirely on the plant. In our special articles we give you some helpful tips on how to fertilize houseplants and what you should consider when watering houseplants.