Repotting without making a mess of it

Repotting is not complicated, but doing it in the wrong order turns a fifteen-minute job into an afternoon.

Before you start

Water the plant a day earlier. A slightly moist root ball slides out in one piece; a bone-dry one crumbles and takes roots with it.

The sequence

1. Lay out the new pot, the mix and something to catch the spill.
2. Put a mesh pad over the drainage hole so soil does not wash out. Not a layer of stones — that raises the waterlogged zone rather than draining it.
3. Add enough mix that the plant will sit at the same depth it was before.
4. Ease the plant out, tease the outer roots loose, trim anything black or mushy.
5. Centre it, fill around the sides, press gently. Leave two centimetres between soil and rim so watering does not overflow.

The two things people get wrong

Burying the stem deeper than it was. It rots. Match the old soil line.

Feeding immediately. Fresh mix already has nutrients, and damaged roots cannot take fertiliser. Wait three to four weeks.

Afterwards

Water thoroughly until it runs from the hole, empty the saucer, and keep the plant out of direct sun for a week. Some drooping in the first days is normal.