Real-World Examples of Best Practices for Repotting Houseplants

Everyday examples of best practices for repotting houseplants

Let’s start with real-life scenes you’ll recognize from your own living room. These examples of best practices for repotting houseplants show what “good repotting” actually looks like, step by step, with different kinds of plants.

Example of repotting a root-bound pothos the right way

Picture a golden pothos hanging in your kitchen. The vines look fine, but the soil dries out in a day and roots are circling the bottom. Instead of jumping to a giant pot, here’s a best example of what to do:

You gently squeeze the sides of the nursery pot, tip the plant sideways, and slide it out. You see thick white roots wrapping around the soil. Using your fingers, you tease the roots loose so they’re no longer in a tight spiral. You’ve already picked a pot that’s only 1–2 inches wider than the old one and has a drainage hole. You add a bit of fresh, airy potting mix, set the plant in so the root ball sits at the same height as before, then backfill with more mix, pressing lightly so there are no big air pockets.

You water once, slowly, until water runs out the bottom, then let the pot drain fully in the sink. Finally, you put the pothos back in bright, indirect light and skip fertilizer for about a month. This is one of the simplest examples of best practices for repotting houseplants: modest pot size increase, gentle root loosening, fresh mix, and a single thorough watering.

Example of repotting a snake plant without drowning it

Snake plants (Sansevieria/Dracaena trifasciata) hate sitting in soggy soil. A common mistake is repotting into heavy, moisture-holding mix. Here’s how a careful plant parent handles it.

They mix regular indoor potting soil with coarse sand and perlite so it drains fast. When they slide the plant out of its old pot, they notice some mushy, dark roots. Using clean, sharp scissors wiped with rubbing alcohol (following basic hygiene principles similar to those the CDC recommends for tools and surfaces: https://www.cdc.gov/), they trim away the rotten roots. Then they repot into a terra-cotta pot with a drainage hole and a fast-draining mix.

Instead of watering immediately, they wait a couple of days to let the cuts on the roots callus over. This is another clear example of best practices for repotting houseplants: adjust the soil to the plant’s needs, clean your tools, remove rotten roots, and don’t rush to water.

Example of repotting a monstera that’s top-heavy

A big monstera can start leaning and pulling away from its pot. Repotting is not just about more soil; it’s also about stability.

In this example, the grower chooses a wider, heavier pot (again, only about 2 inches wider) and adds a moss pole or sturdy stake. They repot the monstera into a chunky aroid mix—potting soil blended with orchid bark, perlite, and a bit of horticultural charcoal. While repotting, they position the moss pole close to the main stems and gently tie the stems to the pole with soft ties.

This shows how examples of best practices for repotting houseplants are not one-size-fits-all. For climbing plants, repotting is also a chance to give them support and encourage upright, healthy growth.

Example of repotting a peace lily to fix constant wilting

A peace lily that wilts constantly, even when watered, is often root-bound. Here’s how someone uses repotting as a reset.

They water the plant a few hours before repotting so the root ball is easier to work with. When they slide it out, they find roots jammed tightly together. They gently loosen them and even slice vertically into the root mass in two or three spots with a disinfected knife to encourage new root growth outward.

They move it into a slightly larger pot with fresh, moisture-retentive but well-draining mix and water thoroughly. Over the next couple of weeks, they keep it in bright, indirect light and keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. This is a textbook example of best practices for repotting houseplants that prefer evenly moist soil: pre-watering, loosening roots, modest up-potting, and careful aftercare.

Example of repotting a succulent without breaking leaves

Succulents are fragile on top and touchy about water. Here’s a real-world scene:

Someone wants to repot a rosette succulent that’s outgrowing its tiny plastic cup. Instead of grabbing it by the leaves (which snap easily), they gently hold the base of the plant, tip the pot, and let gravity help slide it out. They use a cactus/succulent mix with extra perlite or pumice.

They choose a shallow pot with drainage and plant the succulent so the base isn’t buried too deep, which can cause rot. They water lightly once and then wait until the soil is fully dry before watering again. This is another good example of best practices for repotting houseplants that store water in their leaves: handle gently, use gritty mix, and don’t overwater.

Example of repotting a fiddle-leaf fig with minimal drama

Fiddle-leaf figs are drama queens. A careful plant owner repots in spring, when the plant is actively growing, rather than in the dead of winter. They choose a pot only slightly larger and use a high-quality indoor potting mix with added perlite.

They keep the root ball mostly intact, only trimming away clearly dead or rotten roots. After repotting, they put the plant back in the same spot it was in before, to avoid stacking stress (new pot + new light + new room). They also skip fertilizer for 4–6 weeks to let the roots recover.

Here, the example of best practices for repotting houseplants includes timing (spring), minimal root disturbance, and avoiding too many changes at once.

Key examples of best practices for repotting houseplants, step by step

Now that you’ve seen real scenarios, let’s pull out the patterns. These are the best examples of what consistently works when repotting most indoor plants.

Choosing the right pot size and type

One of the most common questions is, “How big should the new pot be?” Real-world examples include:

• Moving a 4-inch nursery pothos into a 6-inch pot, not a 10-inch one. Too big a pot means too much wet soil sitting around bare roots.
• Keeping a snake plant in a snug pot, but upgrading just enough so the roots aren’t cracking the sides.

A helpful rule, echoed by many university extension services like the University of Minnesota Extension (https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/), is to size up by about 1–2 inches in diameter for small to medium plants and slightly more for very large ones.

Pot material matters too. Terra-cotta breathes and dries faster, which is great for plants that hate wet feet (succulents, snake plants). Glazed ceramic or plastic holds moisture longer, which can help thirstier plants like ferns and peace lilies.

Using the right potting mix for the plant

Another pattern across examples of best practices for repotting houseplants is tailoring the soil mix:

• Tropical foliage (pothos, philodendron, peace lily): high-quality indoor potting mix with good drainage.
• Aroids (monstera, many philodendrons): indoor mix plus chunky materials like orchid bark and perlite.
• Succulents and cacti: gritty, fast-draining cactus/succulent mix with extra perlite, pumice, or coarse sand.
• Ferns and calatheas: moisture-retentive but airy mix, often with added peat or coco coir and perlite.

Checking recommendations from horticulture departments, like the University of Florida IFAS Extension (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/), is a smart way to match your mix to your plant type.

Handling roots: loosen, don’t torture

In nearly every good example of repotting, the person does something helpful with the roots:

• For root-bound plants, they gently loosen the outer roots so they stop circling.
• For plants with rotten roots (often from overwatering), they trim away the soft, brown, smelly sections with clean, disinfected tools.

Think of it like a haircut and a stretch, not a full-body surgery. You want the roots to be able to grow outward into the new soil, but you don’t need to scrub off every grain of old mix.

Watering after repotting: one deep drink, then patience

Another repeated example of best practices for repotting houseplants: how they’re watered afterward.

Most healthy plants appreciate one thorough watering right after repotting. The goal is to:

• Settle the soil around the roots
• Eliminate large air pockets
• Help the plant connect with the new mix

After that, you let the soil dry according to the plant’s normal preference before you water again. Overwatering right after repotting is a classic way to cause root rot.

Some exceptions, as seen in the snake plant example of repotting, include waiting a few days to water if you had to cut away a lot of roots or if the plant is especially prone to rot.

Timing your repotting for less stress

Most houseplants handle repotting best in spring and early summer, when they’re actively growing. That’s when they can recover faster and grow new roots.

Repotting in the middle of winter, when many plants are semi-dormant, is a common stress trigger. If you have to do it (for example, you discover severe root rot), you can, but you’ll want to be extra gentle and conservative.

Many of the best examples of repotting success share this timing pattern: do the big moves when the plant is already in growth mode.

2024–2025 trends influencing repotting practices

Houseplant care isn’t static; trends shift as we learn more and as people share real-life experiences online.

Trend: Chunkier mixes for better root health

In 2024–2025, more indoor gardeners are using chunkier, airier mixes for tropicals and aroids. Instead of heavy, peat-only soils, they’re blending in orchid bark, perlite, and coco coir. This mirrors recommendations from many horticulture experts who emphasize drainage and aeration to prevent root rot.

Trend: Reusing soil carefully

With more people thinking about sustainability, there’s growing interest in reusing potting mix. Good examples of best practices for repotting houseplants with reused soil include:

• Only reusing soil from healthy plants (no pests, no disease, no rot).
• Refreshing reused soil by mixing in some new potting mix and amendments like perlite.
• Avoiding reused soil for very sensitive plants.

If there was any sign of disease, the safest move is to discard or solarize the soil outdoors, following general safety guidance about handling soil and compost that aligns with health-focused organizations like the NIH (https://www.nih.gov/) and Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/) when it comes to hygiene and handwashing after gardening.

Trend: Fewer repottings, more root checks

Instead of repotting on a calendar schedule (“every year”), more plant owners now check roots before deciding. Examples include gently sliding the plant partway out of the pot to see if roots are circling or if soil is staying soggy.

This root-first approach avoids unnecessary repotting, which can stress certain plants like ficus and calathea.

Common mistakes (and better examples to copy instead)

Sometimes the best examples of best practices for repotting houseplants come from doing the opposite of what went wrong last time.

Going up to a pot that’s way too big

Mistake: A small plant gets moved into a huge pot “so it has room to grow.” The large volume of soil stays wet for too long, roots suffocate, and fungus gnats move in.

Better example: Size up gradually, about 1–2 inches wider, and repot again in a year or two if needed.

Burying the stem too deep

Mistake: Adding so much soil that the stem is buried higher than it was before, which can lead to rot.

Better example: Keep the top of the root ball at the same height it was in the old pot, then add a thin layer of fresh mix on top if needed.

Repotting sick or stressed plants without fixing the cause

Mistake: Repotting a plant that’s suffering from low light, pests, or chronic overwatering and expecting the new pot to magically fix everything.

Better example: Treat pests first, adjust light and watering, then repot gently once the plant is a bit stronger—unless you’re dealing with severe root rot and need to act quickly.

Ignoring tool and hand hygiene

Mistake: Using dirty scissors or a knife to trim roots, potentially spreading disease.

Better example: Wiping tools with rubbing alcohol before and after use, and washing hands after handling soil. While this is basic common sense, it lines up with general hygiene recommendations from health authorities like the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/), especially if you’re handling a lot of soil or compost.

FAQ: Real examples of best practices for repotting houseplants

What are some simple examples of best practices for repotting houseplants I can follow every time?

A few easy habits go a long way:

• Water the plant lightly a few hours before repotting so the root ball holds together.
• Choose a pot only 1–2 inches larger with a drainage hole.
• Use a potting mix suited to the plant (chunky for aroids, gritty for succulents, moisture-retentive but airy for ferns).
• Loosen circling roots and trim only clearly dead or rotten ones with clean tools.
• Water once thoroughly after repotting, then let the soil dry according to the plant’s normal needs.

These are the best examples of repeatable practices that work for most common houseplants.

What is an example of repotting a plant that doesn’t actually need a bigger pot?

Sometimes you just want to refresh the soil without upsizing. A good example: a medium-size philodendron that isn’t root-bound but has old, compacted soil. You can slide it out, gently shake off some of the old mix, and repot into the same pot with fresh soil, keeping the root ball at the same height.

How often should I repot my houseplants?

There’s no fixed schedule. Many plants are fine being repotted every 1–3 years. Look for signs like roots circling the bottom, water rushing straight through the pot, soil that never seems to re-wet properly, or the plant becoming top-heavy. Those real-world signals are better guides than the calendar.

Are there examples of plants that prefer being root-bound and shouldn’t be repotted often?

Yes. Some plants, like snake plants and some types of philodendron, tolerate slightly tight pots well and don’t need frequent repotting. Even then, following examples of best practices for repotting houseplants—like only sizing up a little and keeping the same soil type—will keep them happier when you do repot.

Should I fertilize right after repotting?

Generally, no. Fresh potting mix often contains slow-release nutrients, and roots are a bit stressed after being moved. Waiting 4–6 weeks before fertilizing is a common example of best practices for repotting houseplants, giving roots time to settle in first.

If you keep these real examples in mind—modest pot size changes, plant-specific soil, gentle root handling, smart timing, and calm aftercare—you’ll find that repotting stops being scary and starts feeling like what it really is: a fresh start for both you and your plants.