Repot and Survive to Tell the Tale
If you've just welcomed an easyplant into your home, you can relax – our self-watering pots provide the perfect environment for your plant to thrive.
For those with traditionally potted plants, however, identifying the right moment and method for repotting can transform a stressful guessing game into a confident gardening success. Join us below for a complete guide to repotting.
The easyplant Difference
Your easyplant arrives in a pot with a hidden reservoir that delivers water directly to the roots through a wicking system. This precise hydration, combined with pre-measured, slow-release nutrients in the growing medium, creates an optimal environment that eliminates common growing pains.
Unlike traditional pots that can require yearly upgrades, easyplant's integrated system maintains ideal root conditions as plants develop and mature – your easyplant will be happy for around 18 months in its original pot.
Your easyplant may need repotting in the future, and when that time comes, we’ve made it easy with the easyplant Repotting Kit—a complete solution that includes a new easyplant pot, premium growing medium, and all the tools you need. The kit is currently available for small and medium easyplants.
You can also reuse your old easyplant container for another plant, as long as the wick isn’t damaged during removal.
When Repotting is Necessary
Clear signals your traditionally potted plant needs a new home:
- Escape artist roots - Thick roots snake through drainage holes or creep across the soil surface, searching for more space and nutrients. In easyplant pots, roots may grow downward along the wick or into the reservoir - this is normal, but if the plant becomes root-bound, it may be time to repot.
- Rising plant platform - The entire plant sits higher than its original planting depth as multiplying roots push it upward.
- Circular root takeover - If you slip the plant from its pot, you'll discover a dense mat of roots spiraling around the soil ball or mass at the bottom.
Some symptoms may also suggest a plant could need repotting - but they often stem from other causes:
- Yellowing leaves - This might look like a plant crying out for more space, but it often points to watering issues, nutrient imbalance, or seasonal transitions.
- Paused growth - Slowed growth may result from root restriction, but it's also common in winter or when a plant reaches maturity.
- Crispy brown tips - These could indicate tight roots, but are more commonly signs of low humidity, inconsistent watering, or poor water quality.
Timing the Transition
Spring marks nature's preferred season for plant relocation, as most species enter their natural growth phase with renewed vigor and resilience to change.
While summer transplants can succeed with proper care, autumn and winter relocations risk shocking dormant plants unless you're working in a controlled indoor environment.
You could also add new plants to your home in spring – popular species include the ZZ Plant, Cast Iron Plant, and Money Tree.
Selecting the Right Container
Note: easyplant pots are long-term homes – their specialized self-watering system provides the best growing environment for most plant species.
When it’s time to repot, the easyplant Repotting Kit includes a perfectly sized large pot (10.9") and soil formulated for optimal indoor plant health - for small and medium easyplants.
If you're repotting a large easyplant or a non-easyplant, choose a pot no more than two inches larger in diameter than the current one. Excess space leads to soggy soil and stressed roots.
Essential Tools for Traditional Repotting
Proper preparation prevents problems for traditional pots. The easyplant Repotting Kit provides everything you need for a smooth repotting experience - including a new easyplant pot, high-quality potting soil, coco coir for a clean finish, a wooden stick, a potting surface, and gloves. It’s designed to simplify the process and support healthy root development.
If you’re repotting a plant not in an easyplant pot, be sure to choose a new container no more than 2 inches larger in diameter than the current one, as too much space can lead to overwatering and root stress.
The Repotting Process for Traditional Pots
Add fresh potting mix to your new pot, creating a firm base about 2 inches deep. Let your plant's soil dry until barely moist - this makes removal far easier and keeps the root ball intact. Place one hand at the plant's base while gently squeezing the pot's sides. Turn it sideways and ease the entire root ball out with a firm but gentle touch. Never yank the stem.
Healthy roots should be light-colored and firm with an earthy smell. Dark, mushy spots need trimming with clean cuts.
Use your fingertips to carefully tease them outward from the dense core for circling roots - imagine unlocking a tangled knot, working from the outside in.
Recovery and Aftercare
Give the plant a thorough initial watering - just enough to moisten the new soil throughout - and then dial back watering once weekly or when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Most indoor plants respond well to indirect light, and a few dropping leaves are normal as your plant adjusts. After about six weeks, you should see new growth emerging - this is your signal that the plant has established itself.
Common Repotting Mistakes to Avoid
- The most frequent error is choosing an oversized pot. While it might seem generous, a pot larger than three inches in diameter can drown roots in excess soil that holds too much moisture and isn’t compact enough to stabilize the plant.
- You'll want to add soil around your newly positioned plant, but don't pack it aggressively. Tap the pot gently on your work surface to balance soil contact and oxygen flow.
- When encountering a dense root ball, resist breaking it apart. Instead, use your fingertips to gently tease the roots outward, preserving their delicate network while encouraging new growth patterns.
- If you happen to spot your plant in full bloom, wait before repotting. Moving a flowering plant triggers dropped blooms, redirecting energy to root recovery. Let the blooming cycle finish unless the repotting honestly can't wait.
- Don’t repot your plants before a prolonged vacation - repotting disrupts the roots and creates an adjustment period where plants are more vulnerable and require consistent care. The easyplant self-watering pot eliminates that risk by maintaining stable moisture levels and giving your plant the support it needs during the transition.
The Bottom Line
Whether your plant needs repotting depends on its pot size, the quality of the soil, and how long it has lived in its pot.
Most plants only need repotting every one to four years and some do well in the same pot without any special care other than consistent watering.
The easyplant self-watering pot guarantees consistent watering as the wick delivers water to the roots over at least one month. Your easyplant also has slow-release fertilizer to support its growth for around one year.
Plants that aren’t in an easyplant container may need repotting more regularly. The easiest way to tell is to check for roots growing out of container holes (where visible) and remove the plant from its pot to see how tightly compacted they are.
For a stress-free upgrade, the easyplant Repotting Kit takes the guesswork out of the process. It's the easiest way to give your plant a fresh start with the right tools in one place.
Check out the easyplant plant care library for advice on caring for your plant.
