Hello and welcome to Healthy Houseplants Comp, where we teach you all about gardening in the Great Indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you’ll see in the comment section below.

Today, we’re going to talk about when it’s time to repot a houseplant. I get this question quite a bit, and it can be a little confusing. A lot of people think, “Oh, I’ve had the plant in this pot for such-and-such amount of time, so it’s time to repot it.” Well, that’s not a good way to do it because every plant is different, every microclimate in every home is different, and what each plant needs is different. The plant’s needs vary, so there’s a lot to consider besides how long it’s been in the pot.

There are plants that can stay in pots for years without needing repotting and actually do better being root-bound. On the other hand, there are plants that need to be repotted much more frequently. For example, African violets need to be repotted every six months if you want them to keep flowering. Succulents, on the other hand, shouldn’t be repotted too often; they like to stay on the dry side and prefer to be a little root-bound.

One thing to consider is where these plants come from, their natural environments. For instance, many succulents come from deserts with little rocks and crevices where there’s not a lot of root room. In contrast, ferns often come from very moist climates where they get constant moisture.

Now, I’m going to show you a few telltale signs so you know what to look for.

Sign 1: Roots coming out of the bottom of the pot This plant is a good example of needing to be repotted soon because it has roots growing out of the bottom of the pot.

Sign 2: Plant-to-pot ratio Another sign is the plant-to-pot ratio. This guy, as you can see, is really about 3/4 plant and 1/4 pot right now, which is not a good ratio. We want a 2/3 plant to 1/3 pot ratio. Once your plant surpasses this ratio, it’s definitely time to repot.

Sign 3: Yellowing leaves Yellowing leaves can also indicate the need for repotting. When a plant is root-bound, it can’t absorb nutrients efficiently, leading to yellow leaves. While some leaf loss is normal, excessive leaf loss and quicker leaf death can be signs of needing repotting or root rot.

Sign 4: Soil sinking Another common sign is when the soil has sunk, and the plant appears to have sunk as well. This means it needs more soil. You can add soil on top, called top dressing, but sometimes it’s best to pull the plant out, add fresh soil, and repot it. When repotting, leave about a quarter inch around the top of the soil.

A lot of times, if the soil is going out of the bottom of the pot when you water, it’s good to use screening or drywall tape when you repot to prevent this.

That’s about it for when to repot a houseplant. Thank you for watching this video. Please leave any indoor gardening tutorial requests you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video.