When should houseplants be repotted?

To fit into Marilyn Monroe's dress on the night of the Met Gala, Kim Kardashian went on a crash diet. Your house isn't a red carpet and your green plants aren't Kim Kardashian. To shine, they need the right nutrients and the right setting. There's no need to rush off to a luxury couturier or a Michelin-starred restaurant. Simply repot your houseplants at the right time.

In the open ground, plants have all the space they need to develop their root systems. They also have unlimited access to the nutrients and mineral salts contained in the garden soil. These are regenerated naturally, thanks in particular to plant decomposition.

In pots, tubs or window boxes, space is limited and resources limited. The nutrients in potting soil are depleted and not replenished. Your plant can no longer feed itself or continue to grow.

Whilefertilizing helps to enrich the substrate, it does not replace repotting. Potting is an essential part of growing plants indoors and in pots, just like watering and sunlight. It gives the plant more space and renews the nutrients in the soil.

Your plant sends you signals when it needs a new pot. It's up to you to decode them.

The first sign is slow growth. Young leaves are smaller and sparser than usual. This is a sign that your plant no longer has the resources it needs to flourish. The same is true if flowering is reduced to an absolute minimum.

Another sign that it's time to repot is that you're watering more often than usual, as the potting soil is no longer absorbing water.

To confirm your suspicions, check the condition of the roots. When they protrude from the drainage hole, are flush with the surface or have gone all the way round the pot, repot without delay. With transparent pots, you can check their development at any time. If you're using opaque plastic or terracotta pots, hold the plant firmly by the root and carefully remove it from its container. You'll be able to judge the volume occupied by the root system and the mass of potting soil remaining. When there are more roots than soil, it's time to repot.

Repotting adapts to the life cycle of plants. It takes place during the growth period, when leaves begin to appear. In this way, your plant will have all the space and nutrients it needs to grow. Most species enter the vegetative phase from spring to autumn. You can therefore repot your Monstera, Zamioculcas, Pothos or orchids in early spring, during the months of March and April. For some less hurried specimens, repotting can even take place in May or June.

Do not repot between November and February. Plants are dormant. They are less able to withstand pot changes and consume less water and nutrients. Switching from the old, dry, impoverished potting soil to a substrate rich in minerals and moisture could rot the roots.

Finally, never repot a plant while it is flowering. The stress of a new environment will cause the flowers to drop off.

It's not always necessary to repot after purchase. Once the pot is large enough and the potting soil is suited to the plant's needs, you don't need to do anything. Avoid traumatizing the latest arrival by inflicting a change of pot.

However, houseplants are often presented in containers adapted to the conditions in which they are sold. If the pot is too small, if there are more roots than potting soil, or if the potting soil has dried out, don't hesitate to repot, even in winter. A tiny pot and unsuitable substrate can do more damage than moving house.

When it comes to repotting after purchase, there are two opposing teams. Some leave the plant in its original pot for ten or fifteen days, while it adapts to its new home. Others repot as soon as they arrive home, to avoid having to multiply the transition periods.

Is your Echeveria elegans invaded by thrips? Have you been too heavy-handed and your Monstera's potting soil is waterlogged? Then repotting can save their lives, whatever the time of year.

In the event ofa pest attack, repot after treating the plant. This is the only way to ensure that the soil doesn't harbour any larvae that could still be rampant. You can use the same pot, provided it has been disinfected.

If your Mini Monstera has been the victim ofexcess water, renew the soil to prevent the roots from soaking in moisture. When repotting, take the opportunity to cut off any rotten roots with a clean tool. You'll recognize them by their brown color and soft texture. Healthy roots are firm, fleshy and generally white. You may need to air-dry your protégé for a few hours.

Frequency depends on the variety and age of the plant. We recommend repotting young plants every year, in a larger pot. Once the plants have reached their definitive size, repotting every two or three years is sufficient. At this stage, you can keep the same pot.

If your palm tree or cactus is too big to handle, you can opt for a resurfacing operation: remove five centimetres of soil from the surface and top up with new potting soil or compost. This operation provides nutrients without having to dislodge the plant.

Has your apartment become a veritable jungle, and can't remember the last time you repotted your Alocasia 'Black Velvet? Put your trust in the Monstera app. We'll let you know when it's time to repot, with a reminder based on the care history and requirements of each of your plants.

Get yourself a terracotta or plastic pot. If your plant is still growing, it should be larger than the previous pot:

- 2 to 4 cm larger for a pot with a diameter of less than 30 cm ;

- 5 to 10 cm larger for a pot over 30 cm in diameter.

Pots must be pierced to allow water to drain away. At the bottom, pour a drainage layer (clay balls, gravel, pebbles, etc.) two to five centimetres thick.

Add a layer of potting soil. This provides the plants with organic matter. Its composition must meet the needs of your plants. Potting soil for green plants, for flowering plants, for cacti and succulents... There are all kinds. If you're not sure which one to choose, read our article Which potting soil should I choose for my houseplants?

Before planting, check and clean the roots. Remove soil residues and dead or rotten roots.

Place your plant in the center of the pot. The root ball should be two to five centimetres below the rim. This space prevents water from overflowing when you water. Fill in the sides with potting soil. Press down to promote root contact and eliminate air bubbles. Then resume cultivation as usual, except for fertilization. Wait at least three weeks before resuming fertilization.