How to Transplant Primroses in Pots

Wash the pot with soapy water, and rinse it in a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. This sterilizes the container so plant diseases and pests are eliminated. Let the pot air-dry so soil will not stick to the sides. If the container does not have drainage holes, punch three or four holes into the bottom.

Mix four parts potting soil, one part peat moss, and one part sand to create a well-draining soil mixture. Fill the pot with the soil, leaving a couple of inches of room from the rim.

Use a hand trowel to dig a hole into the soil as deep and wide as the primrose roots. Lay the primrose on its side, and squeeze the sides of the container. Tip the loosened plant out into the palm of your hand. Do not pull the plant out by the stems, since this can break them.

Place the primrose root ball into the hole, taking care not to cover the crown of the plant. Fill the sides of the hole with soil, and gently firm the soil around the base of the plant to hold it in position. Do not press down the soil and compact it.

Plant other primrose plants 3 to 6 inches apart in the container to give the pot a full look. Fill in any sunken spots with soil, and water the soil around the base of the plants. Place the transplanted primroses into a shady location, and keep them watered while the young plants adapt.