Find out what to do if you planted your houseplant in too big of a pot. This video will show you the correct size pot for the dracaena in the video and tell you what to do if you accidentally repotted into too big of a container. Plants put into too big of a pot are at great risk for root rot.
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Today we’re going to answer a question I often get, especially when people watch my videos on the importance of potting up in the correct size pot. You don’t want to put your plants in too big of a pot, because what will likely happen is that the plant will succumb to root rot.
What sometimes happens is that viewers see my videos on potting into the correct size pot and realize they’ve used a pot that’s too big, and then ask what they should do. Your best move is to repot right away, or soon after you’ve done this, because inevitably, all the wet soil surrounding the roots will start the process of root rot. And you don’t want that to start. Once it starts, it’s really hard to stop, and it takes a long time to get the plant back to health.
I do have a video series on how to stop root rot, which can be done. Henry, a Ficus elastica, stars in that series, so you can fix the problem, but it’s better not to let it start in the first place. If you did repot in too big of a pot, get the plant out of that pot right away and get it into the correct size pot as soon as possible.
The correct dimensions you want are two-thirds plant on top to one-third pot on bottom. Here, I have put this plant into a pot, but this is the wrong size pot. You’ll see that this pot is a little bigger than the plant itself; it’s not even half-and-half. The pot is a bit bigger than half the size of the plant, which is not the right size.
You would want to get this plant out of the pot as soon as possible and into the right size pot. I happen to have the plant in the correct size pot. This is a Dracaena. Here you go—this is the correct size pot. You’ll see there’s a two-thirds plant to one-third pot ratio. For the most part, you want the plant to be the centerpiece, not the pot. If the pot is more visible when you look at the plant-pot combo, then it’s likely too big.
You definitely wouldn’t want something as big as this pot. You can see the difference in pot sizes right here for these two sizes—there’s a big difference. If you had this Dracaena planted in the larger pot, there would be lots of extra wet soil around the roots. So if you potted it in the larger size, get it out of there as soon as possible and into the correct size pot, like this one, and you’ll have much better luck overall.
So there you go—that answers the question: “What do I do if I planted in too big of a pot?”
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FAQs on Potting Houseplants in the Correct Pot Size
Why shouldn’t I pot my plant in a pot that is too big?
Potted plants in overly large pots risk root rot because the soil around the roots stays wet for too long, causing the roots to decay. It’s best to use a pot that matches the plant’s size to avoid these issues.
What should I do if I’ve already potted my plant in a pot that’s too big?
If you’ve already planted in a too-large pot, it’s best to repot it into a smaller, appropriately-sized pot as soon as possible. This will reduce the risk of root rot caused by excess wet soil.
How do I know what size pot to use for my plant?
The recommended size is a two-thirds plant to one-third pot ratio. The pot should not be more visually dominant than the plant, which should be the main focus.
What is the correct pot size for a Dracaena?
A Dracaena, like other plants, should be in a pot where the plant occupies about two-thirds of the visual height, with one-third as the pot. This balance helps prevent excess soil that can lead to root rot.
What is root rot, and can it be fixed?
Root rot occurs when plant roots sit in excessively moist soil and begin to decay. It can be treated, but prevention is best. For those experiencing root rot, there are methods to save the plant, as detailed in our video series featuring Henry, a Ficus elastica.
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