How to Change Soil in Indoor Plants

Water the plant until moisture drains from the bottom of the pot. Allow the soil to fully rehydrate for 15 to 20 minutes before proceeding, as moist soil takes less effort to remove than dry, hard soil.

Turn the pot on its side, and slide out the plant, supporting it with your hand. Thump the sides and bottom of the pot to loosen the soil, if it doesn't slide out easily.

Wash the pot in a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water, if you are reusing the pot. Rinse away the bleach solution with clear water.

Fill the pot a third of the way with moistened potting soil. Use a soil similar to the old soil the plant was growing in.

Remove as much soil from the roots as possible, gently breaking the soil free with your hands. Rinse the remaining soil from the roots with a gentle stream of clear water, if you are replacing the soil due to pest problems. It isn't necessary to remove all the soil if you are repotting because of plant size.

Set the plant in the pot, spreading the roots as you position it. Add or remove soil from beneath the roots until the top of the root ball sits 1 1/2 to 2 inches beneath the pot rim.

Fill in around the roots with additional potting soil. Add soil until the top of the root ball sits just beneath the soil surface. Water the plant thoroughly.