Changing a plant's soil, whether for repotting or refreshing, involves carefully removing the plant from its old container and clearing away some of the existing soil. This prepares the plant for its new growing medium.
Here are the fundamental steps to remove a plant from its pot and begin clearing old soil, based on standard practice:
Preparing the Plant for Soil Change
Before you can introduce new soil, you need to gently extract the plant and its root system from the old pot.
Step-by-Step Removal
Follow these actions to safely remove the plant:
- Loosen the Soil: Slightly squeeze the current pot around its sides. This helps to loosen the soil and the roots' grip on the inside walls, making removal easier.
- Invert and Extract: Place your hand on the surface of the soil, positioning it around the base of the main plant stem. Gently turn the pot upside down to remove the pot, allowing the entire soil profile (the root ball with the soil attached) to slide out into your waiting hand.
- Clean the Root Ball: Carefully remove any soil that easily pulls off from the top and sides of the soil profile. Focus on areas where there are no visible roots densely intertwined, as this is usually old, depleted soil.
By following these steps, you effectively remove the plant and its existing soil from the pot, which is the crucial first phase in the process of changing the soil.
