The other day, a neighbor asked me: “Can I dig up the roses from the flowerbed downstairs and put them in pots? My balcony is empty, and I’d love to move them upstairs.” Many people wonder the same thing—if a plant is already thriving in the ground, can it really adapt to pot life? Or will moving it kill the plant?
The truth is, most ground-planted flowers can be transferred into pots—but it’s not as simple as just digging them out and replanting. The roots of in-ground plants spread wide and deep, like living in a spacious house. Suddenly moving them into a “small apartment” (a pot) requires adjustment. If you yank them out and break most of the roots, the plant won’t survive. That’s why the first step is root pruning. One to two weeks before transplanting, dig a circular trench around the root zone and cut some of the older roots. This encourages new fibrous roots to grow, making the transition into a pot much smoother.
When Is the Best Time?
Spring and autumn, when temperatures are between 15–25°C (59–77°F), are ideal. In summer, the heat causes root dehydration after transplanting; in winter, roots are too inactive to regrow. Last autumn, I moved my mint from the ground into a pot—it barely struggled, and now it’s lush and green. Had I moved it in summer, it probably would have wilted.
Plants That Do Well After Transplanting
1. Roses (Rosa spp.)
Ground-planted roses bloom well but often compete with weeds and suffer from waterlogging. In pots, with airy potting soil and containers with drainage holes, watering and fertilizing become much easier. You can also move them indoors in winter to protect against frost. By the following year, potted roses bloom just as beautifully as those in the ground.
2. Herbs like mint, perilla, and basil
When planted in the ground, these herbs grow wildly and often attract pests. In pots, you can control their growth and pick leaves easily for cooking—fresh and convenient! Since their root systems are shallow, they handle transplanting very well.
3. Shrubs such as hydrangeas and gardenias
Hydrangeas in poor light produce fewer blooms. In pots, you can move them around to catch the sun, and you can also customize the soil mix—like leaf mold with perlite for moisture and aeration. My gardenia used to have yellow leaves when planted in the ground, but after moving it into a pot with acidic soil, it exploded with fragrant blooms this summer.
Final Tip
Ground-to-pot transplanting works best with proper root pruning, the right season, and suitable plant types such as roses, herbs, and shrubs like hydrangeas or gardenias. With a little care and timing, you might find your plants growing even better in pots than in the ground. Give it a try—you may be pleasantly surprised!
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