how to repot a pothos plant

My new pothos plant recently misted. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

A couple of months ago, I bought this gorgeous little pothos plant from my local home and garden store that had too little soil in too small a pot. So I knew the poor thing would need to be repotted sooner rather than later. Now that the warmer weather has arrived, it’s time to give this struggling plant baby a better plot of earth.

From left to right: snake plant, pothos plant, bromeliad. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

When to repot your pothos

According to Joy Us Garden (check her out for houseplant care tips), the best time to replant a pothos is spring or summer. Pothos are resilient plants, so you may only need to repot once every 1-3 years, depending on growth. When the roots get dense and tangled, it leaves less than ample room for the soil that contains the necessary nutrients. If you see the plant roots getting dense and escaping the bottom of the pot, it’s time to transplant!

How to remove the plant from the pot

Following a tip from Joy Us Garden, I watered my pothos plant thoroughly before trying to remove it from the pot. Saturating the soil before transplanting reduces stress on the plant and increases root flexibility. This makes them pliable so they do not break during the transplanting process. 

Turn the plant on its side and gently squeeze around the sides to remove it from the existing pot. This loosens the soil’s grip so that the plant slides out. Use your fingers to massage around the plant to gently loosen the soil and roots if they are too tight. Be careful not to yank or dump the plant or break the roots. Gently slide the plant out of the pot and lay it on the counter. The key word to remember here is gentle.

Pothos before replanting. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Pothos from above, waiting for transplant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Choosing the new soil

Pothos plants are not picky but need well-draining soil (not garden soil). Lately, I’ve been experimenting with my mix—based on some research—and I came up with a soil mixture that seems to be helping a few of my other plants (my bromeliads and peace lilies), so I decided to give it a try for this plant as well. It’s a mixture of 1/2 good quality potting mix (well draining, moisture balancing), 1/4 sphagnum peat moss, and 1/4 orchid bark.

Sphagnum peat moss. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Orchid potting mix. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Potting soil. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Choosing a new pot

Choose a new pot that is a few inches larger to give the plant space to grow. As you see below, the first pot I chose was too small, so I had to find a slightly larger one that could accommodate the width and depth of the new plant. Also, the pot I chose first did not have the drainage holes essential for balancing moisture in houseplants. Pots with drainage holes tend to look utilitarian, which is a buzz kill for decorative style in a space, right? The simple solution to this problem is to buy a decorative pot (one that matches your style) and drop the newly repotted plant inside. Now you have the best of both worlds!

New pot is too small. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

You’re finally ready to plant! 

Now we get to the fun part—getting our hands dirty! Put some new soil mixture along the bottom of the pot, enough so that the new plant will sit more or less a little lower than the pot rim (about 1/2-1”). Hold the plant in place to judge how much soil to place at the bottom to get it to the right level at the top. Be careful not to plant too low or too high in the new pot. The idea is that you want to be able to water the plant without water and soil overflowing over the sides, but at the same time, you want the bottom leaves to get the proper light and air circulation. Once the plant is at the right height, you can fill the gaps around it with new soil. Once you’ve filled with the desired amount of soil, gently tap the pot a few times on the counter to help the soil settle into any air gaps. If the soil level has dropped, add more soil before watering. I use my fingers to gently tamp the dirt down, not to compact the soil but to secure the plant.

Pothos plant freshly watered with tangled roots sits next to a pot with its new soil mixture. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Bigger new pot for the pothos plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Pothos plant replanted in bigger pot. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Newly planted pothos plant with decorative stones. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

How to water your pothos

Most plants need to be watered after they are transplanted to settle them into the soil and help alleviate the stress of the transplanting process. Now that your pothos is in its new home, water deeply until the water runs out of the drainage holes in the bottom. If the soil settles too much, add more to top it off. And that’s it! Place your plant in a well-lit area (see the next section) and keep an eye on it. You can try a little fertilizer in a month if it needs a boost. Pothos (like most houseplants) will benefit from being in a humid space (like a bathroom).

Light needs for pothos plants

As I’ve mentioned before, pothos plants are resilient. They are said to be a pretty good plant for those who may not have the greenest thumb or the perfect environment. Pothos like moderate light but will tolerate low light. I placed my new plant on a northeast-facing bathroom window, so it does get a small amount of direct sun in the morning, but for most of the day, it gets bright indirect sunlight. And it seems to love its new home! It’s already stretching its limbs and getting viny, which I love!

My newly planted pothos plant outside. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Another shot of my pothos plant outside. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Pothos plant on my back door step. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

My pothos plant one week after replanting on bathroom windowsill. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

I’d love to hear in the comments if you have a pothos plant. Are any of you in the process of repotting your houseplants? Drop a line in the comments below if you have any tips for repotting houseplants to share!

Related blogs you may want to read:
Small houseplants that love bathroom humidity
A spring decor makeover for my small rental bathroom 
How to propagate bromeliad pups
Eight health benefits of decorating with plants
Six herbs I planted indoors
Let’s talk about houseplants
Biophilia in interior design

This article may contain a few items or commercial mentions, but I only used them for demonstration purposes only. I am not endorsing any particular product or receiving any monetary gain for this blog.