Repotting plants

Container plantings occasionally need repotting to ensure the health of the plants. Here are some telltale signs that your container needs repotting.

Credit: iStock / tinabelle

Is it time to repot your container plant? We have the signs to watch for and the steps to take

Container plantings occasionally need repotting to ensure the health of the plants. Here are some telltale signs that your container needs repotting.

Do you need to repot your container plant?

1. The plant wilts quickly, even after generous watering

2. Roots are growing through the drainage hole

3. The lower leaves are beginning to discolour

4. The plant appears too large for its container

How to repot a container plant

Select a pot that is 5 cm (2″) larger in diameter than your plant’s current container. Water the plant well, then repot into the new container using fresh potting soil. Remove dead or strangling roots, taking care not to disturb the delicate feeder roots that will establish the plant in its new pot.

Repot your container plantings in early spring, just prior to the commencement of active growth. This gives your plants plenty of time to root into fresh soil in preparation for their peak growing season.