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Plants & Balcony · Explainer · 5 min ·

How much bigger should a plant pot be? Repot one and see

When a plant looks cramped, it is tempting to give it a much bigger pot. But extra soil with no roots in it stays wet, and wet soil is how roots start to struggle.

Slide a plant into a new pot, change how much wider it is, and pour some water to see what the roots sit in. You will also see why a pot with no drainage hole needs a cover-pot trick, and what to measure before you buy.

Cross-section of a plant in a pot, with a ring of fresh soil around the root ball

What to buy, if anything

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