When to Repot Houseplants: A Guide to Optimal Timing

Knowing when to repot your indoor plants is crucial for their overall health and growth. Repotting your plant is an essential part of their care and getting it right will help to promote the future wellbeing of your plant.

When is the best time to repot houseplants?

As a general rule of thumb, the best time to repot your houseplant is during its growing season - this will typically be Spring or Summer.

At this point your plant is actively growing and will be able to make the most benefit of fresh soil. Repotting during the growing season also means your plant will be able to recover quicker compared to being repotted in the dormant winter months when sunlight levels are less.

Wondering what soil to use when repotting indoor plants? Why not check out our range of repotting soil.

When to Repot Indoor Plants

Here are some examples of when you will need to repot your houseplant:

When should you repot houseplants – Tip 1

Your plant is root bound and is outgrowing its pot:

Root bound means that the roots of your plant have filled their pot. They may be growing out of drainage holes. You may also see them on the surface of the soil.

If you see these signs happening, it is the perfect time to repot in a larger plant pot to allow its continued growth.

Repotting your plant will give the roots space to move and grow. Roots are vital to the health of your plant, so it important to keep them happy!

When to repot house plants – Tip 2

Plant has become top heavy:

A top heavy plant is one that is leaning to one side or could even be tipping over. This is because they have outgrown their pot and the weight of the pot and soil is not enough to stop the plant from toplling over.

Top heavy plants often have restricted root growth due to the limited space in their pot. Repotting your plant into a larger pot and adding fresh soil will provide the roots with more room to grow and allow them to absorb essential nutrients. It will also help your plants to not have a lean on them or fall over.

We would also recommend when repotting a top heavy plant to use a plant support such as moss pole to further support your plant too.

When should I repot houseplants – Tip 3

Soil quality looks poor or is breaking down:

Over time, it is the quality of the soil in your pot will decline. The soil breaks down due to watering, the roots using the nutrients from the soil and the general growth of your plant. Repotting soil can be looked at like an item of clothing, after a while it is either outgrown or gets worn out.

It is important to regularly monitor your soil quality for any of these tell-tale signs and then repot when necessary:

1) Poor drainage – if the soil is constantly waterlogged, this may indicate poor quality soil.

2) Mould or fungus – if your soil has broken down, it will not drain adequately and will retain excess moisture which can create a breeding ground for mould and fungus.

3) Pests – if you start to see pests, it may mean your soil quality is poor, as pests thrive in damp, nutrient-depleted soil.

When should I repot my indoor plants – Tip 4

Signs of stress:

When plants become stress, they show visible signs. Common signs of stress in houseplants include stunted growth, wilting leaves or yellowing leaves. More often than not, these signs are due to over watering or under watering your plants.

However, if you have adjusted your watering routine and your plant is still showing signs of stress, then repotting can help. Repotting will help give your plant a fresh set of nutrients to help it recover.

When to repot houseplants uk – Tip 5

Every 1-2 years:

As a general rule, we would recommend repotting your houseplant every 1-2 years.

Adding fresh, nutrient rich soil will give your plants what they need to encourage strong and healthy growth.

This timescale will be dependent on the growth rate of your plant. Quick growing plants will need to be repotted sooner compared to slower growing ones.

Final thoughts on When to Repot a Houseplant

By following our tips in this blog, you can be confident of the signs to look out for that your houseplant needs repotting.

Your plants will thank you for enhanced growth potential and better stability that repotting can provide.

Felling inspired? Why not check out our full range of repotting essentials.