Repotting Your Plants in Flower Pots

Just like a child's foot needs new shoes as it grows, so does your potted plant or flower. Your flower pots will flourish and mature when you regularly repot the plants to larger planters or just to refresh the potting soil.

Most plant enthusiasts don't realize that over time, two things happen to your plants. One is that the soil, or potting medium, gets "tired" and becomes devoid of essential nutrients. The second is that a plant's roots will continue to grow, taking up more and more space in the pot. As this happens, the plant becomes "root-bound," which means the roots either begin to grow out of the drainage holes of the flower pot or become brown and unhealthy at the bottom.

The combination of decomposing potting medium and cramped quarters inevitably leads to an unhealthy environment for the plant. The cure is usually quite simple—repot the plant.

Repotting should be done once a year, preferably in the late fall or early spring, and it's best to repot plants only when they are between flowering cycles.

To repot a plant:

Select a new container or flower pot with drainage holes which is one or two sizes larger than the original one. A pot too large can lead to overwatering.
If the pot has been used previously, use an antibacterial soap to kill harmful organisms. Clay pots should be soaked overnight and then washed to remove the white fertilizer salts around the insides.
Fill one-third of the new flower pot with premium potting soil, such as Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix or Miracle-Gro Premium Potting Mix. I like Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix because it is formulated to absorb excess water and release it gradually into the roots as needed.
Remove the plant from the old pot. Next, gently shake off the old potting soil or mix from the root mass. If the roots are tightly wound, gently slice the sides of the root ball in two or three places.
Insert the plant into its new pot. Make sure the crown of the plant is about an inch below the top of the pot. This allows space for adding sufficient water, and it eliminates spills. To finish, fill in around the sides of the root ball with your potting medium and gently compress the mix as you fill in. Then, water the plant thoroughly to ensure that all areas in the root zone have been moistened and allow the plant to drain.

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