Succulents should be planted in pots that are about 10% broader than the plants themselves. Choose the shallow pot whenever the choice is between a deep or shallow pot. The pot’s depth should be 10% greater than the plant’s depth.
Let’s clarify using instances from real life:
- Grab a 2.5 (the best option) to 4 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal outcomes if you have a 2 inch succulent.
- Grab a 4.5 (the best option) to 6 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal results if you have a 4 inch succulent.
How can you tell when a succulent requires a larger container?
Succulents are a favorite among home gardeners because to their distinctive colors, odd shapes, and low maintenance requirements.
Succulents are low maintenance, but that doesn’t mean you should plant them and leave them alone. There will probably come a point when your succulent requires a little more care in addition to making sure it gets the right amount of water and sunlight. Your succulent will eventually need to be repotted in order to give it a suitable environment in which to develop and flourish.
Continue reading for four reasons to repot succulents if you’re unsure whether or not yours does.
Roots are growing through the bottom of the pot
Do you notice white roots clogging the drainage holes in the container when you turn your succulent over? It’s time to repot your succulents if the answer is yes. It’s definitely time to repot if roots are the cause of your pot becoming unsteady. A decent rule of thumb is to leave about a 1/2-inch space around the pot’s edge and between your succulents (if you’re using more than one plant in a pot). Although you want to give your succulent some breathing space, a pot that is too large will actually slow down its growth. Additionally, make sure it has drainage holes. Drill a few holes into the bottom if there aren’t any. If you don’t want to drill holes in your pots, adding a layer of stones, like our Hydro stones, in the bottom of your pot is a fantastic alternative drainage method.
The soil dries out too fast
Have you ever noticed that after watering your succulent, the soil is completely dry again after a few hours? This is a clue that your succulent needs to be repotted because the potting soil is no longer suitable. Succulents want soil that drains easily, but they also require soil that remains damp long enough for the roots to absorb the liquid. Make sure to get the best potting medium for your plants when you repot succulents because of inadequate soil. Succulent soil and perlite, both of which are available at your neighborhood garden center, should be mixed in a ratio of 1:1.
Your succulents are top heavy
Your prized succulents need to be replanted if they are leaning or tipping over, which is an evident symptom. This does not necessarily imply that they require a larger pot, though! Some varieties of succulents grow tall while maintaining shallow root systems. Therefore, even though the roots of your succulent are content in its current container, you must repot it due to the top’s weight. In this case, you simply need a heavier pot—no need to acquire a bigger one. Use a hefty clay container or large stones in the bottom of a lighter pot to add weight when repotting your succulents.
Your succulent looks unhealthy
Have you observed that the once-plush and luscious leaves of your succulent are now limp, shriveling, or yellowing? These are symptoms of a sick plant, therefore it’s time to identify the issue and perhaps repot your succulents. If your succulent receives adequate water and light, then you should check for pests, disease, and rot as potential offenders. Examine the leaves of your succulent; if no issues are there, take the plant out of the pot and check the roots. Cut the roots back to where they seem healthy if you notice a problem with them. Repot your succulent after that in a clean container with new soil. Hopefully, your succulent plant will recover quickly after being re-potted.
Are smaller pots preferable for succulents?
Any succulent plants you purchase in a tiny grow pot can be replanted and kept alive for at least 6 to 12 months in a small ornamental pot. Succulents that remain small and compact are the best for growing for a long time (more than a year).
The ones that remain little or grow slowly are my favorites. They include Gasterias, Panda Plants, some Echeverias and Crassulas, Living Stones, Sempervivums (the rosette-type succulents known as Hens & Chicks), Haworthias (genus of the well-known Zebra Plant), and Living Stones.
Size
Choose a pot that is just big enough for the plant to grow in, but not too big. The circumference of the appropriate pot is 5–10% greater than the size of the plant. Choose pots with a maximum excess space around the sides of an inch or two. The delicate roots will spread if the pot is too big before the plant has a chance to develop. There won’t be any room for the roots to spread in a pot that is too tiny.
Style
The ideal pot should not only complement your style and decor but also the physical properties of the plant. Tall pots look excellent with upright-growing succulents, like aloe. Low-growing cultivars, like Echeveria, look fantastic in little pots. Not to mention spillers with trailing growth tendencies like String of Pearls. Spillers in shallow pots or hanging plants look fantastic and grow well.
Material
There are many different types of materials for pots. The most prevalent materials are wood, terracotta, metal, ceramic, and resin. Terracotta or ceramic pots work best for succulent plants. Both of these materials allow for proper air and water circulation because they are both breathable. Just keep in mind that both ceramic and terracotta are weighty, especially after adding soil and plants.
Pick resin or plastic pots for larger plants, especially ones you plan to move around. Your back will thank you for using those lighter pots as you move or reposition plants.
Drainage
Before you plant and cultivate succulents, the most important thing to understand is that they don’t like a lot of water. Even before you develop a watering schedule, this is relevant. Without adequate drainage, water that accumulates at the bottom of a container without anywhere to go may cause root rot in your succulent.
The ideal pots for succulents, regardless of design, are planters with drainage holes in the bottom. Since many succulent planters lack drainage holes, you can use any of them as long as you keep in mind to water succulents sparingly and keep an eye on them frequently.
Can succulents tolerate too-large pots?
It can often be difficult to determine the proper size of pot for your succulents and arrangements. In order to give your succulents some room to spread out and expand, I generally advise allowing about a half-inch between them and the pot’s edge.
Because the roots stretch out before the succulent has a chance to catch up, too much room can actually stop a succulent from growing much larger. A 2.5 inch pot is typically a decent choice if you’re planting a two-inch succulent alone.
You should allow some space around each succulent in your arrangement if you’re mixing many of them so they have room to spread out.
Once completed, a closely packed arrangement like the one below will be stunning and will typically stop the succulents’ growth.
Give your succulents enough “breathing room” so that new growth may occur if you want them to grow bigger and spread out. The optimal ratio is often 1/2 to 1.
You ought to feel better prepared to buy a new pot for your succulent plants today. Even though there are many factors to take into account, picking a pot is still a lot of fun when growing succulents.
It’s time to start potting after choosing the ideal container! For a detailed guide, see my post on potting succulents.
Do succulents prefer to stay in their pots?
When should you repotted succulent plants, and how? Most succulents and cacti don’t require frequent repotting.
Even in pots and containers that appear to be too tiny for them or in containers that they have outgrown, they can flourish.
When they fall out of the pots and containers, some truly look fantastic. You must eventually repot your plants for a number of reasons.
The following are the top 5 reasons to repot your plants:
- when you recently bought the plant. Usually, when I purchase a new plant, I repot it. Succulent repotting is described here. Repotting new plants is a wonderful idea to put them in better pots and potting soil. Repotting fresh plants offers you the chance to closely examine the plants for issues like root rot or pests.
- should place the plant in a better potting mixture. Repotting is also a good opportunity to give the plants new potting soil. Periodically, your plants should be repotted to replace the old potting soil with new potting soil so they may acquire the nutrients they require to flourish.
- to allow for larger plants. Your succulents will eventually outgrow the container they are in. They may start to topple over or you may notice roots emerging from various places of the plant as they spill out of the container. This demonstrates that the plant needs more space to develop and grow.
- to encourage growth Repotting in a bigger container will encourage growth. Plants kept in small, confined spaces adjust by growing more slowly. Your plant will have more area to grow if you repotted it into a big pot. You may encourage the plants to grow larger more quickly by giving them more place to expand. Repotting plants can help them get off to a fresh start when their growth appears to be stunted.
- when vegetation becomes rooted-bound When plants outgrow the container they are in, they become root-bound. You can occasionally observe roots emerging from the holes when the plant’s root system becomes twisted. This is an excellent time to repot into a large container, however if you want to control growth, you can choose to cut the roots instead and use the same container.
I planted some of my overgrown plants in the following manner:
This is a “Green Pinwheel” Aeonium Decorum. This plant, which I acquired as a baby plant in a 2-inch pot, has reached this size. Why repot this plant when it appears so content and healthy, you might be asking yourself. I’ve got a few of them. Since I didn’t have any other space at the time, I threw this plant and two Portulacaria Afra (Elephant Bush) stem cuttings into this plastic container at random. They are both now mature and in good health. I intended to split the two and put them in more attractive pots.
The plant’s roots are seen sprouting out of it in all directions when you look closely, which is another reason I wanted to repot it. When I prune and divide this plant into multiple smaller plants and allow them spread out on their own, I believe the plant will flourish even better. I can multiply this plant more in this way.
Here’s how they appeared after being removed from the pot. Both plants have produced quite robust roots, as is evident.
I divided the plant into smaller plantlets with care, making sure to keep part of the roots.
I used a sizable terra-cotta pot and filled it with a combination of perlite and cactus soil.
I planted the cuttings in the pot and gave it a nice water after letting them dry for a day or two. After repotting, some individuals wait a few days before watering. I immediately watered it because I knew it had been quite dry and needed moisture.
Because they couldn’t all fit in this planter, I left some of the cuttings outside. Each one was potted into a smaller container, where it would naturally develop into a larger plant. After all, this entire plant evolved from a much smaller plant than these. I’m gifting these little ones to pals.
I divided and replanted these Portulacaria Afra (Elephant Bush) in several pots, some of which I intend to give away. I am giving these plants more room to thrive and produce additional baby plants by dividing them.
Some of the cuts ended up in this location. I divided them out into several pots and planters to distribute to friends. I gave this one to a friend who was interested in starting a succulent garden.
When the plants are not doing well, repotting is an excellent idea. Here are a few instances:
This overgrown gnome garden, which I planted more than a year ago, has also been pleading for my attention.
By removing or cutting certain unwanted plants, you can occasionally remodel an overgrown planter without disassembling the entire structure. To learn how I did that, please click on Revamp an Overgrown Garden. The planter up top, however, was not one of those instances. I needed to remove these plants from this old potting soil because they were not doing well for some reason.
Sedum Carnicolor, Anacampseros Rufescens (Sand Rose), and Portulacaria Afra are three of the succulent species present (Elephant Bush). The first two plants I indicated are the two that are not doing well and require attention. The Elephant Bush is doing great, as evidenced by the fact that its size has tripled. These elephant bushes are all over my property. I use this plant’s stem cuttings as fillers and stick them around, and they spread like wildfire. I also had Pachyphytum Oviferum (Moonstones), which I had previously transplanted into a different pot, in the same planter.
These Sedum Carnicolor plants were simply looking like they needed to be pruned and have since grown longer. Although some people might not object to the way the stems look, I elected to do so. Although they are somewhat brittle and drop leaves easily, the good news is that the leaves also root and spread readily. Observe how some of the leaves have already begun to grow on their own.
I removed the decaying and dead components. I gave the cuts a few days to dry out and callous over. Here’s what I’m getting at. Before putting the cut stem in soil, it must be entirely dry. I gently placed the stems in the soil after adding cactus soil and perlite to a pot. Due to their extreme dryness and dehydration, they currently appear quite droopy. I gave it a decent drink and left it to rest in a spot that was slightly shaded till the roots got stronger.
In the pot, these Anacampseros Rufescens (Sand Rose) didn’t seem so good either. I cut off any dead leaves or rotting roots and removed the majority of the old dirt. After a few days of drying and healing, I placed the cuttings into a container with perlite and cactus mix. They are so parched that I gave it a nice sip. The plants will need a few weeks to recover and begin growing stronger roots. To prevent burning the plant, I’ll keep it in a bright area out of direct sunlight for the time being.
With very strong roots, these Portulacaria Afra (Elephant Bush) have expanded significantly in the past year. Since I didn’t cut anything off, these could be planted straight away and don’t need to be dried before repotting.
Another neglected plant that requires care is this sad-looking Sedeveria ‘Jet Beads’ (Jet Beads Stonecrop).
Stem cuttings were collected from Sedeveria ‘Jet Beads’. Ever since cuttings were removed from it over a year ago, its growth has remained stifled.
Beautifully developing stem cuttings of Sedeveria ‘Jet Beads’. From this other plant, stem cuttings were taken. The two plants’ divergent growth patterns are easily seen. They are getting the same attention, sunlight, etc.
Believe it or not, they come from the same plant as the other Sedeveria “Jet Beads”! I transferred the stem cuttings I cut from this plant into this pot. The mother plant isn’t doing as well, but the cuttings are. This one truly baffles me since typically when I remove cuttings from a plant, the plant will bounce back and send out new growth from the location of the cuttings. But after the cutting, this one was unhappy and temporarily stopped growing. Similar amounts of sunlight and maintenance are given to both plants. Because of this, I’ve decided it’s time to care for the plant and perhaps restore its health.
I just clipped the stems off and allowed them to dry for a few days. The dried stems were then placed in a planter filled with perlite and cactus mix. In a few weeks, hopefully, the plant will have strong new growth and the stems will develop good roots. This plant’s leaves can readily root and spread. A young plant and some of the leaves were already developing roots. I simply buried them in the soil alongside the rest of the plant and let them to develop collectively.
I’m not sure if I should get rid of this stump. Wherever you cut the plant, other plants will frequently grow from the roots, which are still extremely healthy. I might decide to keep this and replant it to see what happens.
The stems were potted as shown below. I’m hoping the plant will start to grow once more.
Finally, I had these two additional plants that were flourishing and outgrowing their tiny pots. I can see they are outgrowing the pot since the plants are growing new roots and sprouting young plants. I wanted to give them space so they could expand and grow. The plants are Crassula perforata and Sedum Aurora, sometimes known as pink jelly beans or pork and beans (String of Buttons). Due to their color and beauty, I adore these two plants, and I would like to see more of them grow.
Due to their size growth and the narrow entrance in the pots, the plants were actually challenging to remove. Eventually, I was able to remove the plants with the least amount of harm. The leaves on these Sedum Auroras (Pink Jelly Beans) are delicate and readily come off when transplanted. It’s good to know that they may quickly root and spread. Normally, I simply place them back in the ground and wait for them to naturally take root.
Again, I combined perlite and cactus mix. Since I didn’t take any cuttings or introduce any plants with open wounds that needed time to heal, I immediately replanted these plants and they didn’t need to dry out. Because I believed they would look beautiful together and I found this really cute pot for them, I made the decision to group them together for the time being.
I just removed a few cuttings from the Pink Jelly Beans that were already sprouting in another pot since I wanted a few more. Take note of the color contrast between these two. Despite being the same plants, they are cultivated in different illumination. In this enormous fairy garden, the lighter one was flourishing and protected from the sun by other, taller plants. The other, more colorful plants were getting more sun. I gave the cuttings a day or two to dry. Because the stems are so thin, they dry up quite quickly. Along with the other plants, I inserted the dried stem cuttings. Here they are planted side by side.
You have it, then. I don’t repot my plants all that much and pretty much leave them alone. Prior to transferring them again, I like to find a container that they can grow into. Repotting your plants can occasionally benefit them and give them a chance to stretch out and grow more, as you can see from the example above.
Please click on “Choosing the Right Pot for Succulents” to read more about how to choose the best pot for succulents. Please visit my resource page for suggestions on the best pots and potting benches to buy.