Have you repotted houseplants and they’ve ended up dying or not doing well? This video will teach you the secret to successful houseplant repotting every time. Learn about the 1/3 pot to 2/3 plant combination. See what the plants should look like in the container when you repot. Repot houseplants in the right size container and you will end up with healthy, thriving, happy houseplants. Use the wrong size container, though, and your plants will struggle. They might even succumb to root rot and die. Repotting in too big a pot is a common mistake that leads to sick houseplants. Find out how to avoid this and grow healthy houseplants.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today, I’m going to talk about the secret to successfully repotting your houseplants so that they thrive instead of struggling.
I get this question from many readers and subscribers. It usually goes like this: They have a plant growing really well, looking healthy and vibrant, and then they decide it needs to be repotted to continue thriving. Unfortunately, a lot of the time (not always, but often), they end up repotting the plant into a pot that’s too big. The result? The plant starts to deteriorate—it gets pests, develops root rot from fungus, and just doesn’t do well.
So, what I want to share with you today is a simple secret to ensuring your repotted plants flourish. The key is the 2/3 plant, 1/3 pot combination. As you can see with this plant here, it follows the 2/3 plant to 1/3 pot ratio. Many people look at this and think the plant is too big for the pot and that it’s going to die because it doesn’t have enough soil. But actually, the opposite is true.
What happens when you have too much soil (when you have a 1/3 plant and 2/3 pot scenario) is that it’s like planting your plant in a lake. All that excess soil stays soggy because there’s not enough root system to absorb the water. This leads to the soil staying too wet, which causes fungus to develop, leading to root rot. As the roots start to die, the plant stops growing and may even shrink back in size.
Let me show you an example to demonstrate what I mean. This plant here is a peace lily, just like the one I showed you earlier. When I planted it in 2015, it was about the same size as it is now. I knew the pot was a little too big, but I thought, “I’m in a hurry; it’ll be okay.” Well, it’s been okay, but it hasn’t grown much. In comparison, this other peace lily has grown twice its size in just four months since I repotted it into the correct-sized pot.
So, from 2015 to 2019, one plant stayed stagnant, while the other one is thriving. I guarantee you that this healthy one will be even bigger in the next two to three months. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right-sized pot.
Here’s another plant that is perfectly proportioned. You can see it follows the 2/3 plant to 1/3 pot ratio, and it’s doing really well. It doesn’t need to be repotted yet. However, let me show you a plant that is just on the brink of needing to be repotted. This one is starting to outgrow its pot, with the plant beginning to exceed the 2/3 plant to 1/3 pot ratio. Within the next month or so, I’ll repot this one into a pot that’s just one size larger.
When you repot, don’t jump to a pot that’s too large. Just go up one pot size at a time to maintain the 2/3 plant to 1/3 pot balance. This peace lily is getting close to a half-and-half ratio, which isn’t ideal, but the plant is a bit bigger. This pot would be the absolute largest size for this plant.
Now, you might be wondering, “What about if my plant gets really big? Can a small pot still sustain it?” The answer is yes. Look at this Croton plant—it’s large, but it’s thriving in a 2/3 plant to 1/3 pot ratio. It’s a happy, healthy plant because it’s in the right-sized pot.
That’s it for today! Please enjoy gardening in the great indoors. Leave a comment below with any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see, and don’t forget to like, share, comment, and subscribe.
FAQs About Repotting Houseplants
What is the secret to successfully repotting houseplants?
The key to successfully repotting houseplants is to follow the 2/3 plant to 1/3 pot combination. This means two-thirds of the plant should be above soil, and the pot should only occupy one-third of the total height. This prevents excess soil from becoming too wet and causing root rot.
Why does repotting into a larger pot cause issues?
Repotting into a pot that’s too big leads to excess soil that stays soggy because the plant’s roots aren’t developed enough to absorb all the moisture. This can cause fungus and root rot, leading to poor plant growth or even shrinkage.
Can a small pot sustain a large plant?
Yes, a small pot can sustain a large plant if you maintain the 2/3 plant to 1/3 pot ratio. Even big plants, like a Croton, thrive in the right-sized pot, which ensures proper growth without issues like root rot.
How do I know when my plant needs to be repotted?
If your plant is starting to exceed the 2/3 plant to 1/3 pot ratio, it may be time to repot. However, when you do, only go up one pot size at a time to maintain the balance.
What happens if I plant in a pot that’s too big?
When you plant in a pot that’s too big, it’s like putting the plant in a “lake” of soil. The excess soil retains too much moisture, leading to fungal infections, root rot, and poor growth.
How long does it take for a plant to recover from improper repotting?
If your plant was placed in an oversized pot, it may take some time to recover. Repotting into the correct size can help improve its condition, but recovery depends on the extent of the damage.
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Promix BX potting soil–good for most houseplants: https://amzn.to/3iVIrjE
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