Q&A for How to Transplant a Plant

It is best to transplant your plants early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

It's possible for plants to recover from transplant shock if you provide enough care and attention.

The best time is during a plant's dormant stage, which is usually in either early spring or late fall.

You shouldn't pack the dirt hard, because there needs to be air spaces so the roots don't rot.

The reason for transplanting a plant is that the plant has essentially outgrown its current container and needs a bigger one. Leaving it in the container would eventually cause the plant harm.

It depends on the type of plant. Some hardier plants can be transplanted multiple times, while others can't even handle one transplant.

Be careful not to cut up the main root. If the plant is composed of bunches of separate stems with roots of their own, you can divide it; but if it is all one stem, keep it as intact as you can. Otherwise, use your usual garden equipment to dig it up. Be careful to leave the original soil on the roots.

Yes, just very little to dampen the soil. Be careful not to overwater the plant. Use caution and add tiny amounts of water. (I use a spray water bottle to achieve this.)

Bring soil in a pail inside, and let it sit for 24 hours to warm up. If it was frozen, it may need to thaw, and stirring it a few times in the 24 hours to allow the center to be mixed and warm up faster is preferable. You wouldn't want to jump in a cold lake, and your plant roots don't want suddenly to be stuck into cold soil.

It depends on the type of plant. Some plants can die if the soil surface is dry for a few days, as they need constant moisture. Others can withstand dry soil for a week or two, so search for more information on the specific type of plant you want to grow.

It depends on the type of soil. If it's pre-moisturized soil, then it doesn't need to be wet. But if it's topsoil, then it would be preferable for the soil to be wet. And if the soil is dry, then that's another good reason for the soil to be wet. As a general rule, if you plan to wet the soil, make sure you don't over-wet it. It would be a good idea to use a water can that has tiny holes rather than a large hole as this could make the soil overly wet.

The plant is likely still getting used to its new conditions. If this is an indoor plant, keep it in a cool, shady spot for a day or 2 before gradually moving it into sunlight. If this is an outdoor plant, you may not have given it enough time to acclimate. Try feeding the plant with fertilizer.

Transplant the plant using either of the above methods. Treat the potato as a root ball, but do not try to loosen it or cut it apart.

Get a pup or a baby aloe plant from its mother plant by pulling it gently off. Make sure it has its own roots when you remove it.

Follow either of the methods. Instead of inverting the cactus, however, use a spoon or trowel to loosen the soil around the cactus. Use the same spoon or trowel to dig under the cactus and scoop it up. Set it down into its new home and pat the soil around it.

Use a trowel to loosen the soil around the base of the plant. Dig through the soil with gloved hands until you find the root ball, then lift the root ball out. Do not grab the plant by the stem.

Yes, this should be possible. Choose a pot that is a few inches/centimeters wider and deeper than the root ball. After transplanting, keep the plant in a cool, shady spot for a day or 2 before gradually moving it back into sunlight.

It is possible that the plant is still getting used to its new conditions. If this is a potted plant, keep it in the same location as before. Some fertilizer may help encourage the plant to produce new flowers. Also, keep in mind that not all plants produce flowers year-round.

You can, but you shouldn't. Fresh soil is best for plants to ensure that they get the nutrients they need.

You should leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space between the top of the soil and the top of the pot.

It would be better to purcahse potting or gardening soil from the store. There is no guarantee that the treatment will work, so it is best to start fresh. A plant that grew up in that soil may be able to handle traces of the infestation, but a newly-transplanted flower will not.

The actual transplanting should take less than an hour. If you are transplanting outside, however, you will need to get the plant accustomed to its new home. The preparation process will take 2 weeks.

If the roots are healthy, you should leave them intact. If the roots are damaged or showing signs of sickness, rot, or disease, you should trim them off. Use a sharp pair of clean scissors to do this.

Use store-bought potting soil for indoor plants, or store-bought gardening soil for outdoor plants. If the plant has special requirements, choose a soil that matches those requirements (i.e.: fast-draining, acidic, etc). Taking the original soil with you is probably not a good idea as it may contain pests/fungi.