Soil & PottingWhen to Repot a Houseplant (and How to Do It Right)
13 min
Topic
Soil & Potting
Everything you need to know about soil mixes, drainage, pot selection, and the right time to repot — for healthy roots year after year.
Most bagged potting soil sold at big-box stores is designed for vegetable seedlings, not houseplants, which is why plants purchased there often arrive in a mix that holds too much water for their roots. Aroids, ficus, succulents, and orchids each want different porosity, and matching mix to plant is one of the highest-leverage changes you can make.
These guides cover what to buy, how to blend a custom mix from pantry-shelf ingredients (coco coir, perlite, orchid bark, pumice), and how to recognise the moment a plant needs a larger pot. Repotting is usually needed every 18–24 months for fast growers and every 3–4 years for slow growers.
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Frequently asked questions about soil & potting
What's the best soil mix for most houseplants?+
A blend of two parts all-purpose potting mix, one part perlite, and one part orchid bark works for 80% of tropical foliage plants. It drains well enough to prevent root rot but retains enough moisture to reduce watering frequency.
How often should I repot a houseplant?+
Fast-growing plants (pothos, monstera, philodendron) need repotting every 18–24 months. Slow growers (snake plant, ZZ plant, cactus) every 3–4 years. Signs it's time: roots circling the bottom, water running straight through, or growth stalling despite good care.
Do I really need a pot with a drainage hole?+
Yes, for almost every plant. Without drainage, water pools at the bottom and roots sit in that pool, causing rot within weeks. If you love a cachepot with no hole, use it as an outer sleeve and plant into a plastic nursery pot inside it.
Should I loosen the roots before repotting?+
Gently tease any tightly circling roots with your fingers, but don't aggressively prune unless roots are obviously girdling the rootball. Plants lose some fine roots during repotting; being too rough extends recovery by weeks.