- Signs it's time to repot a plant include soil drying out quickly, roots growing out the drainage hole, and water sitting on the soil surface too long after watering. - Water the plant a couple days before repotting so the soil is moist. - Remove the plant from the old pot by holding the stem, turning the pot upside down, and tapping or cutting the pot away. Trim any roots that are bound or tangled. - Repot the plant in a new pot slightly larger than the old one using fresh soil, making sure the top of the root ball is slightly below the rim. Water thoroughly.

1. By Rocío Luna

2. Recognizing
when it's time to repot
is the first step.

3. Telltale signs:
• Soil dries out quickly.
• Roots growing out the drainage hole.
• Water sitting on the soil surface
too long after watering.

6. Water the plant
a couple of days
before.

7. It is important to water the plant some
days before so that
the soil is moist when
you're ready to
work on it.

8. Remove the plant
from its pot.

9. 1. Hold the plant's stem.

10. 2.Turn the pot upside down

11. 3. Tap the pot and slowly pull the
pot away from the plant.

12. If it doesn’t work
you can use
a knife to cut
around the edge
of the soil.

13. If your plant is
root-bound, you
should trim the roots.

14. What is a root-bound plant?
A plant becomes root-bound
when its roots grow too large for
its cointainer, so the roots start to
grow in circles and to be
cramped, inhibating the plant to
absorb nutrients and water
efficiently.

17. How to eliminate a root-bound?
You can break up the roots
with your hands or you can
use pruning shears or a
sharp knife and make some
vertical cuts up the sides.

21. Finally, remove about one-third of the soil in
the root ball and spread the roots out.

23. Choose a new pot.

24. The new pot should be no more
than 2 inches larger in diameter
(or 2 inches deeper) than the old
pot.
How to choose a new pot?

25. Why?
A pot that's much larger gives the roots too
much space to grow into.
The top of the plant won't grow until its
roots begin to fill the container.
A too-large container will also hold too much
water and can cause root rot.

27. Also, make sure to choose a pot that
has drainage holes to allow excess
water to escape.

28. Put the plant into the
new pot.

29. Put a few inches of moist soil in the
bottom of the new larger pot.
You can use
a trowel for
this.

30. Then, place
the plant
in the centre.

31. Make sure that
the top of the root ball
is sitting about an
inch below
the rim of
the pot.

32. If it's too deep, add more
soil below the root ball. If it
sits too high,
remove the plant
and dig out
some soil.

33. Fill in the pot with fresh
potting soil.

34. Fill in around the root ball with soil.

35. And tamp the soil down hard around
the edges of the pot with the tips of
your fingers.

36. Cut away dead
branches.

37. Cut away any diseased, dead
or broken top growth in order
to prevent insect and decay
organisms from entering the
plant.

38. You can do this with secateurs.

39. Water the plant.

40. Water the plant with a watering can until
water runs out the bottom and then let it
drain.

41. Enjoy a healthy plant!