So you’ve got the basics down and want to learn a bit more about repotting your plants? 

Here is what you need to know about the two key ingredients: soil and pots. Scroll down for pro tips!

Soil

Potting soil is a mix of compost, peat, perlite, and sometimes sand and moss. It is designed to be well-draining but still moisture retentive (especially with peat moss). All-purpose potting mixes are fine for *most* houseplants, with some exceptions:

• Succulents/cacti, citrus
• Carnivorous plants
• African violets
• Orchids, some other epiphytes

When choosing a soil, or creating one, think about plant habits and needs. When in doubt, choose an organic mix and throw some perlite in!
Help your soils drain better by amending with perlite, vermiculite, bark, sand, clay shards, LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregates).

Pots

• Terra cotta: breathable, dries out faster, inexpensive
• Glazed ceramic: moisture retentive, more expensive, decorative
• Plastic: moisture retentive, cheap, good for hanging pots to avoid added weight
• Cachepots: decorative only, for drop-in use 

Repotting Pro Tips

Don’t be scared to pull a plant out of a pot and check its roots! Roots are a good indication of when repotting needs to happen.
Be gentle with roots. Avoid breakage. Only tease roots apart if they are very rootbound and spiraled around the pot.