Palms are such gorgeous statement pieces, aren’t they? They bring that perfect touch of tropical flair right into your living room. But every now and then, your leafy friend is going to need a little more breathing room. Here’s everything you need to know about giving your palm a new home.
When is it time to repot?
You’ll know your fan palm is ready for an upgrade when its current pot starts looking a bit cramped. Keep an eye out for roots poking through the drainage holes or the entire root ball starting to push itself up over the rim of the pot. When that happens, grab a new container that’s at least 1 to 2 inches wider than the old one. Pro tip: Go for a deeper pot! Fan palms grow long taproots that love to head straight down.
The absolute best time to repot is in the spring, right as your palm is waking up from its winter nap. Fresh soil and a bit more space will give it a huge boost for the growing season. If you notice it’s root-bound later in the year, don’t panic—you can still repot then. It might stress the plant out slightly, but as long as it has enough time to settle in before winter hits, it’ll be just fine.
How to repot your palm the right way
Once you’ve picked out a nice, deep pot, start by setting up some drainage. Toss a layer of expanded clay pebbles, coarse gravel, or broken terracotta shards at the bottom. I like to place a piece of landscape fleece over that layer to keep the soil from washing away. Good drainage is key because palms really hate “wet feet” (standing water).
- Start by adding a layer of palm-specific potting mix over your drainage base.
- Feeling DIY? You can mix your own substrate using compost, expanded clay, gravel, and sand.
- Gently slide the palm out of its old pot.
- Carefully shake off the loose old soil. Leave the dirt that’s tucked between the roots alone—this helps prevent air pockets later on.
- Take a look at the roots. If any look dried out or mushy (rotted), it’s time for a trim.
- Always use a clean, sharp knife for any root pruning.
- Center your palm in the new pot.
- Fill in the gaps with soil and press down firmly to stabilize the plant.
- Give it a good soak! You want the entire root ball to be thoroughly moist.
- Keep your palm out of direct sunlight for a few days while it adjusts to its new surroundings.
- Hold off on the fertilizer for a while; the fresh soil usually has plenty of nutrients to get it started.
