It is important for the roots to start burrowing immediately into the fresh potting mixture, which the plant will not do while dormant. Vigorous roots may be hard to separate from the container. A well-tested method is to hold the plant's main stem, gingerly, while turning the pot upside down and gently tapping the base before pulling the plant away. If the root ball still sticks to the inside of the pot, we may set the plant upright and draw the blade of a long, sharp knife around the inside of the pot. Tamp down the mix as you proceed, and make sure no cavities or gaps are left.
Some people like to place broken shards or stones at the bottom of the new pot for better drainage.
Water well, and keep the plant out of direct sunlight for a few days. Before repotting, check whether the plant belongs among the minority of houseplants that want to be pot-bound. For instance, fleshy-rooted plants such as amaryllis and clivia bloom better under conditions that would qualify as adverse in the case of most other plants. If repotted prematurely, they will yield plenty of foliage, but few if any blooms. One theory is that such plants hurry into bloom and produce seeds because their sensors indicate their survival is being threatened.