How to Repot Succulents to Keep Them Healthy and Thriving

2024-02-22
How to Repot Succulents to Keep Them Healthy and Thriving

It’s a gardening basic: Plants in pots will eventually outgrow the space, which is why it's important to know how to repot succulents when they need it. Repotting every once in a while is necessary to keep plants healthy, and succulents require a little special treatment to move them into a larger container successfully. This guide explains how to know when your succulent needs a new container and includes a step-by-step guide on handling the plant so it makes the transition smoothly.

When to Repot Succulents

The best time to repot succulents is at the beginning of their growing season. Depending on the type of succulent, the growing season begins in the early spring or early fall. Don’t repot a succulent when it’s dormant. A dormant succulent is resting up for the return of its growing season. You may harm it by repotting it mid-nap.

Succulents that go dormant in the winter include sedum, echeveria, kalanchoe, and agave. They are best repotted in the spring. Succulents that go dormant in the summer include aloe, aeonium, haworthia, and senecio, so they are best repotted in the fall.

Don’t repot a succulent that’s blooming, either. Disturbing it will interrupt the blooming process. Repotting a succulent may even make the blooms fall off the plant prematurely. Let those flowers bloom and fade before moving the succulent into a new pot.

Signs a Succulent Needs Repotting

These are signs that you need to move your succulent plant to a new, larger pot.

Growth has slowed down or stopped. If your succulent appears to have stopped growing even though you gave it the right amounts of sun and water, it may be because it’s in a too-small pot of worn-out soil. A larger pot with fresh soil provides nutrition for the succulent and room for its roots to grow.

Water drains from the pot faster than it used to. This could mean the succulent is rootbound, and little soil remains in the pot to hold water. The old pot may be full of roots that have displaced the soil.

You can see roots growing out of the pot. If you see roots on the surface of the potting soil or poking out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, the succulent has outgrown its pot and needs a larger one to keep growing.

You just bought it. New succulents sometimes come in too-small pots full of tired potting mix. Many nurseries use potting mixes that are heavy with peat moss to lighten the shipping weight of plants. Peat isn’t the best growing medium for succulents. Put your new succulent in a new pot with a high-quality, well-draining succulent mix.

It has been in the same pot for more than five years. Succulents should be repotted every two or three years, depending on the variety and growth rate. Even if you see no other signs indicating a succulent needs repotting, put your plant in a pot of new, fresh soil. You’ll give the succulent a burst of nutrients to fuel its growth for a few more seasons.

Steps for Repotting Succulents

Here’s how to repot your succulent when the time comes:

  1. Choose a new pot that is at least 2 inches wider and 2 to 3 inches deeper than the diameter of the succulent.
  2. Fill the new pot ¾ full with a potting mix made especially for succulents or cacti. You can make your own potting medium by mixing equal parts of compost, coir, and perlite.
  3. Remove your succulent from its current pot, and gently loosen the roots with your fingers. Lightly brush the old soil off the plant roots.
  4. Place the plant on top of the soil in the new pot and cover the roots completely with fresh potting mix. Don’t cover any of the leaves with soil or allow them to touch the soil lest they rot.
  5. Lightly pat down the soil mix to stabilize the succulent in its new pot.

Caring for Succulents After Repotting

After repotting a succulent, give it some special attention.

  • Water the newly replanted succulents lightly a day after transplanting them.
  • Keep them in a shady spot while they adjust to the new container and growing conditions.
  • Wait a few weeks before fertilizing the plant. You want the succulent to put its energy into adapting to its new pot, not putting out new growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can repotting succulents cause them to die?

    No matter how careful you are, repotting a succulent damages the root system, which causes transplant shock. Signs of transplant shock include yellowing or dropping leaves and a limp, weak look to the entire plant. Most succulents recover within two weeks, but it's possible that repotting will kill an overly stressed succulent.

  • What kind of potting soil do succulents need?

    Succulents need loose potting mix with a high ratio of perlite and pumice to organic matter. The goal is a mix that allows for fast drainage. Soil that holds water and keeps roots wet harms succulents; these drought-loving plants don’t need consistent moisture. Always use a potting mixture formulated for cacti and succulents.

  • Can you grow succulents from seeds?

    Yes, and now that succulents are trendy, seeds for even rare types are available from online distributors. Growing succulents from seeds is similar to growing most plants from seeds. A critical factor is to use soil that is half potting soil and half sand, pumice, or perlite.

Related Article

How to Plant and Grow Rose of Jericho

How to Plant and Grow Rose of Jericho

Rose of Jericho is a unique houseplant that can survive with minimal water, making it a great option for travelers and forgetful gardeners.
21 Adorably Petite Plants for Fairy Gardens

21 Adorably Petite Plants for Fairy Gardens

Color is always nice, but scale is everything when choosing miniature garden plants. Peruse our favorite picks for fairy gardens and terrariums.
13 Colorful Nectar Plants for Pollinators

13 Colorful Nectar Plants for Pollinators

Create a gorgeous, pollinator-friendly garden by including these nectar-rich plants.
Is Coleus a Perennial or Annual? Here's How to Grow It Both Ways

Is Coleus a Perennial or Annual? Here's How to Grow It Both Ways

Is coleus a perennial that comes back every year? That depends on where you live and how you care for it. Use these tips to enjoy coleus as a colorful perennial or annual plant.
How to Plant and Grow Ranunculus

How to Plant and Grow Ranunculus

Ranunculus are favorite flowers for weddings, arrangements, and gardens. Here's how to plant and grow ranunculus.
How to Plant and Grow Glossy Abelia

How to Plant and Grow Glossy Abelia

This guide on how to grow glossy abelia includes essential planting and care tips such watering, fertilizing, and pruning needs. You'll also find popular types of abelia to grow and pretty companion plants for this flowering shrub.
Hydrangeas Not Blooming? 7 Reasons Why and How to Fix the Problem

Hydrangeas Not Blooming? 7 Reasons Why and How to Fix the Problem

Hydrangeas not blooming can be a frustrating problem for gardeners. These straightforward tips will promote tons of long-lasting flowers.
10 Best Sweet Potato Companion Plants for Larger Harvests

10 Best Sweet Potato Companion Plants for Larger Harvests

Mix and match these sweet potato companion plants in your vegetable beds for pest-free crops and easier gardening.
How to Harvest Mint, Dry Mint, and Store Mint

How to Harvest Mint, Dry Mint, and Store Mint

Learn how to harvest mint to keep plants more manageable and gather fresh mint leaves for cooking, drying, and storing!
How and When to Harvest Radishes at Their Peak

How and When to Harvest Radishes at Their Peak

These easy-to-follow tips will help you figure out how and when to harvest radishes for the best flavor and size. Plus, get troubleshooting advice if your radish roots aren't developing properly.
How and When to Start Tomato Seeds Indoors

How and When to Start Tomato Seeds Indoors

Find out exactly how and when to start tomato seeds indoors so they'll be ready to transplant into your garden in spring.
Tillers vs. Cultivators: How to Choose the Right One for Your Gardening Tasks

Tillers vs. Cultivators: How to Choose the Right One for Your Gardening Tasks

Learn the differences between tillers and cultivators and the tasks they're best suited for.
Here’s What Not to Put in Compost to Avoid a Contaminated Bin

Here’s What Not to Put in Compost to Avoid a Contaminated Bin

Composting is a simple way to turn your kitchen and yard waste into food for your garden. But some of these items should never be in compost.
Easy Lawn Repair for Patchy Grass Using Seed or Sod

Easy Lawn Repair for Patchy Grass Using Seed or Sod

With a bit of grass seed or sod, lawn repair is easy, and you’ll soon have a lush green carpet again.
What Are the Tiny White Bugs on Your Plants? 4 Common Pests They Could Be

What Are the Tiny White Bugs on Your Plants? 4 Common Pests They Could Be

Tiny white bugs on plants in your home or outdoors can be a big problem. Learn how to identify and get rid of them with this guide.
How to Spot 5 Common Plant Diseases and Keep Your Garden Healthy

How to Spot 5 Common Plant Diseases and Keep Your Garden Healthy

Protect your plants from the most common diseases. Learn to recognize the symptoms and how to prevent these diseases in the first place.
How to Landscape with Rocks and Stones in Your Yard

How to Landscape with Rocks and Stones in Your Yard

Decorative rocks and stones add another element of nature to your yard, whether you grow hydrangeas, tulips, or cacti.
Landscape Planning Tips From Start to Finish for a Perfect Yard

Landscape Planning Tips From Start to Finish for a Perfect Yard

Even if you're a beginner, these simple landscape planning tips will take the mystery out of designing your yard's ideal layout.
10 Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants Growing in Your Garden

10 Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants Growing in Your Garden

Use native plants in your garden instead of popular invasive landscape plants: See a list of common invasive plants, plus native alternatives to plant instead.
Your Seasonal Lawn-Care Schedule for the Midwest

Your Seasonal Lawn-Care Schedule for the Midwest

Use our lawn-care schedule to help you maintain a beautiful yard all year long. You'll learn exactly when to mow, aerate, fertilize, and overseed.