Evergreen succulents have always captured my heart. Succulents are low maintenance plants that thrive in containers because to their unusual forms and thick leaves; I have a large collection of these well-liked varieties.
Repotting succulents every two years is a good general rule of thumb, if only to give them access to new, fertile soil. The beginning of a succulent’s growing season is the optimal time to repot it because it provides the plant its best chance of surviving. My gardeners, Ryan and Wilmer, took advantage of the snowy weather earlier this week to repot many succulent plants and propagate a variety of cuttings. Here are some pictures of the steps we took.
In times of drought, succulents, sometimes known as fat plants, store water in their fleshy leaves, stems, or stem-root systems. Because of their eye-catching shapes, succulents are frequently planted as attractive plants.
I needed to repot a few of the succulents in my collection either they had outgrown their pots or I wanted to relocate them into more attractive clay containers.
He stamps my name and the year the pot was produced on the reverse side. When I host big events in my home, they invariably look fantastic.
To aid in drainage, a clay shard is placed over the hole. Additionally, I like using clay pots because they permit adequate aeration and moisture to reach the plant via the sides.
We always keep the shards from broken pots; it’s a fantastic method to use those parts again.
Wilmer carefully takes a succulent from its pot without damaging any of the roots.
Wilmer then conducts a meticulous test to determine if the pot is the proper size for the plant. He picks a pot just a hair bigger than the plant’s original container.
Prills are the name for osmocote particles. A core of nutrients composed of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is covered by the prill’s beige shell.
For the finest drainage, we mix equal parts of sand, perlite, and vermiculite for succulents. The correct soil mixture will also aid in promoting rapid root growth and provide young roots with quick anchoring.
Wait a few days before watering the succulents after repotting to give them time to become used to the new soil.
Wilmer shifts to the following plant. This one too need a little maintenance attention. He picked up any fallen leaves.
In order to promote new development, Wilmer lightly pruned the roots after manually loosening the root ball.
Wilmer inserted the plant into the pot after adding some Osmocote and a little amount of potting soil.
The pale blue-gray leaves of Echevaria runyonii ‘Topsy turvy’ curve upward, are prominently inversely keeled on the bottom surface, and have leaf tips that point inward toward the center of the plant.
Echeverias are among the most alluring succulents, and plant aficionados greatly respect them for their brilliant colors and lovely rosette shapes.
An aeonium is a succulent with rosette-like leaves that grows quickly. Aeonium is a varied genus that includes little or medium-sized plants, stemless or shrub-like, and plants that favor sun or shade.
Succulents should be placed on a table so that they can get enough of natural light even when the sun isn’t shining directly on their pots.
Moreover, propagation is fairly simple. Here, Ryan uses sharp pruners to cut a three to four-inch portion of stem off the mother plant.
There should be about a half-inch of stem showing. A handful of them are ready to be planted here.
Ryan provides plenty of space for the plants. There will be plenty to use in mixed urns during the summer if all of these take root and grow into succulent plants. Four to six weeks following planting, new growth should start to show, at which point each plant should be repotted independently.
Inside my main greenhouse, all of my priceless plant collections are kept on long, sliding tables. They all have such lovely looks. Which succulents are your favorites? Please share your feedback in the spaces below.
How do I determine the best time to repot my succulents?
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.
When purchasing succulents, do you need to repot them?
Repotting your succulents is sometimes important for a variety of reasons. The first is immediately following purchase. Succulents are frequently grown in nurseries on extremely organic, poorly draining soil.
This is effective in a controlled environment like a nursery but typically fails once you bring your succulents home. After buying succulents, it’s best to repot them in new soil.
When your succulents have outgrown or filled the pot they are in, you should repot them. They are frequently “root bound,” which means that the roots have filled the pot and there is no room for the plant to generate more roots.
Succulents from nurseries are frequently root-bound because it can slow down the rate of growth, reducing the frequency with which the nursery must repot its stock.
I often advise leaving 1 to 2.5 cm (1/2 to 1 inch) of space between the edge of the pot and the leaves of your succulent. You should use a pot with a diameter of about 4″ (10cm) if your succulent has a diameter of about 3″ (7.5cm).
How should a newbie repot a succulent?
1. To get started, fill your new planter 3/4 full with pre-mixed succulent or cactus soil, which is often available at any nearby nursery or home improvement store. You can combine standard potting soil and perlite in equal amounts to try making your own soil. Make sure the planter is at least 2″ wider than the diameter of the succulent if you are relocating it to a larger container. Your succulent will have plenty of room to expand and become stable as a result.
2. Remove the succulent from its present container and gently separate the roots. To loosen the roots and remove the soil, you can “tickle” them from the bottom. Consider this phase as a pleasant stretch for the roots. They can stabilize in a larger pot and acclimate to their new soil by being spread out and lengthened. This is the ideal time to remove any dead leaves and brush away any dead roots from the plant’s base. While doing this, be careful to brush away any old or extra dirt.
3. To support the plant, dig a small hole in the fresh dirt, lay the succulent in it, and then gently cover the roots with extra potting soil. Don’t cover any leaves or allow them lay on top of the soil; only add enough to cover the plant’s base. As a result of the leaves absorbing too much moisture from the soil, this will cause them to rot.
4. After the plant has stabilized, you can add colored rocks, pebbles, or sand to give your new succulent plant in a pot a unique touch. Make sure the material drains adequately if you do add something on top so that water can reach the soil underneath.
5. In this case, the situation dictates how to water. Depending on the type of plant and when it was last watered, a succulent that has been repotted may require different first watering. However, it is typically advised to hold off on watering your succulent for at least a week following repotting. Make sure the soil is dry before giving it a good soaking without drowning it.
6. Enjoy your succulent in a new pot! Depending on your environment, sunlight, etc., water your succulent once per week to three weeks to keep it healthy. Water should be applied when the soil is dry. Leave it alone until it dries if it is still wet. They are tough little plants, so try different things to see what works best for your new addition.
How is a succulent plant repotted?
Remove all the plants as described above if you’re repotting them into the same container. Set them aside while you clean the container and add fresh soil. If no roots were damaged, you can wet the ground. To prevent root rot and injury, only plant broken roots in dry soil. To give plants room to flourish, leave between them an inch or two (2.5 to 5 cm).
To prevent the succulents from becoming buried in the pot, almost fill the container to the top.
Bring the pot back to a place where the illumination is comparable to what they are used to.
Do succulents require new pots for their roots?
Your succulent appears to be outgrowing its container. Do your succulent plant a huge favor and repot it if it appears to be outgrowing its current container. (Like you and I, succulents require space to grow.) Repot the plant if you notice roots poking through the bottom of the container or pot.
After purchasing, do I need to repot my plant?
Many individuals believe that adding potting soil or repotting a plant can improve the health of the plant. Most people prefer to follow a schedule while caring for their indoor plants.
A fresh plant may “respond” when new pots, new soil, or disturbances to the root system are made. This response could take the following forms:
- fall of leaves
- withering or drooping leaves
- Dark tips
- Alternately, the plant might produce nuts.
The majority of indoor plants can continue to thrive for a very long time in the same growth pots.
When To Repot Plants?
Probably as soon as you obtain a plant is the best time to repot it. Stop before you drag out a bag of new potting soil.
Your neighborhood nursery or garden business probably shipped the plants hundreds or perhaps thousands of kilometers.
The plant will have a period of adaptation or recuperation. Why allow the plant to re-acclimate twice?
Let me walk you through the plant’s quick journey from the farm to your house. Please bear with me on this
- The expanding nursery receives a purchase order. The plants are taken out of the growing area and put on conveyors or trucks.
- After being manicured, plants are put in a box or sleeve. Rarely is a plant with bound roots conveyed.
- The plants are then put onto trailers, pallets, or rolling racks while they await the arrival of the shipping company. Some nurseries own trucks of their own.
- On trucks, the shipment is loaded.
- Typically, the shipping business empties the truck of all plants before reloading it at the drop-off locations.
- To the nursery or garden center, truckers deliver.
- Unboxed or unsleeved plants are used.
- The plants are then offered for sale by the garden center.
- You buy the plant, pack it up, and move it to your house.
You can detect small root hairs by looking in a 10th-grade botany book or by looking at the roots of most tropical plants. The plant grows healthily thanks to the root hairs. The little hairs aid the plant in absorbing nutrients and moisture.
Think About This For A Moment.
Watch what happens to the root hairs as they travel now. They might get ripped off, dried out, or destroyed. Regrowth of the root ball hairs is required.
Let’s take a closer look at the dirt right now. The plant is flourishing indoors. Watering occurs once a week or every other week according to a regular schedule.
NOTE: Depending on the type of soil the plant is growing in, some watering changes may be necessary.
In general, repotting is not necessary unless the plant requires more frequent watering than once per week.
The Plant MUST Be Repotted
It is positioned in a different pot that has drainage holes. The plant and new soil are given a lot of water.
The issue: The plant wasn’t rooted-bound. There is none “additional roots to drain the extra water.
This is not a concern at the nursery. The potted plant is putting in a lot of effort with lots of indirect sunshine to grow into its new shoes and produce food.
The plant’s metabolism slows down and it won’t be actively developing as much inside.
Don’t improve the appearance of your indoor plant by replanting it or growing it. Decorate with a lovely cachepot planter.
Asking yourself the following questions will help you decide whether to move your plant into a new container if you do “when a plant needs repotting:
- Really, does the plant need it?
- Does the plant have strong endurance or is it simple to maintain?
- Ensure that the plant has healthy roots.
- Upsize to the next pot size: 6 to 8, 8 to 10, 10 to 12, and so on.
- Use clay, terra cotta, or plastic containers with drainage holes for your plants.
- For tropical plants, use an excellent, well-drained potting soil mixture. (Ask your garden center what potting mix is best.)
Also, keep in mind to look for healthy roots while purchasing plants.
Because if you grow strong roots, foliage and leaves will follow. However, make sure to repot indoor plants properly.