When your succulent has obviously outgrown its pot, it’s time to repot it. There won’t be any more room for the roots to spread when they begin to grow through the drainage hole in the pot. Repotter succulents in the early spring or early fall, just before their growing season begins. They will have sufficient time to recuperate from the repotting in this manner.
Should I transfer my succulent to a larger pot?
Repotting your succulents is required for a number of reasons. However, it’s always better to do so just before their growing season, which often occurs in the early spring or early fall for most succulents, regardless of the reason. The succulents will have ample opportunity to recuperate from the repotting in this fashion.
Signs that can help you decide when to report:
- freshly acquired succulents. Succulents that have just been purchased typically arrive in tiny, plastic containers, which may stunt their growth. Therefore, it is very advised to move your new baby to a different planter within two weeks of bringing them home (preferably one that will help with moisture and has proper drainage, like a terracotta pot).
- Succulent begins to outgrow its container. When this occurs, you’ll typically notice that the roots start to protrude from the pot holes because the space is getting too small and restricting their ability to grow to their full potential.  
The space is becoming too small as the succulent roots start to protrude through the pot holes.
- After watering, the soil dries out too rapidly, necessitating you to water the plant more frequently. If you notice that the water isn’t draining through the drainage hole of the pot, your succulent is at risk of developing root rot.
- The plant begins to appear sickly or unwell. Although succulents are given the right amount of light and water, their once-plush and luxuriant leaves may abruptly turn soft, shriveled, or fading. When this occurs, check your succulents right once for any signs of root rot, illness, or potential pest infestation. Remove the plant from the pot and examine the roots if there are no indications of a problem on the leaves. Make sure to remove those that are already dead or don’t appear to be in good health before placing the remaining ones in a clean container with new soil.
- The succulent starts to sag or collapse. When one of your succulents displays this indicator, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that it needs to be moved to a larger pot. They normally do this to let you know that while the roots of your succulent are still content in its current container, the top has grown heavy and has to be repotted into a heavier pot to prevent it from toppling over.
- possess grown offsets or young. Many succulents will produce offsets, or what we commonly refer to as pups. It’s the ideal moment to repot and separate your succulents from the mother plant once they have given birth to a few pups, at which point you may begin propagating them.
Will larger pots allow succulents to grow larger?
Because a small pot can only carry so much soil due to its size, your plant won’t receive enough nutrients to thrive. A small container also restricts the roots, which finally prevents a plant from growing properly.
Bigger Plant Pots Retain More Water
Succulents grow better when beginning gardeners give them plenty of room to expand. Even though a huge container can keep your succulent alive, it does not promote good growth. The succulent cannot fill the plant container with roots because huge pots have plenty of room for them.
In a pot that is the right size, the roots recoil and strike the bottom and sides, which encourages the succulent’s rapid growth. While roots are more likely to rot in wet soil, containers with little soil won’t retain much moisture.
Why Choose a Pot with an Appropriate Depth or Length?
For the health of your pudgy plant, the depth of the container is a crucial factor to take into account. The cause is that excessively deep or tall pots contain a great deal of soil, which might not be ideal for wholesome growth.
Additionally, planters with a large diameter typically hold on to too much moisture. Although the taproot needs room to spread out, too much space will cause the soil to become drier.
How can I transfer a succulent to a larger container?
- Repot your succulents in well-draining potting soil—anything with “cactus” on the bag will do! Any nearby hardware or gardening store will have this. Here is an illustration of cactus dirt.
- Pick a pot with a bottom drainage hole. Before adding the cactus soil, add a layer of rock if the pot of your dreams lacks drainage holes.
- Fill your pot with cactus dirt about 3/4 of the way up.
- To remove your succulent’s soil from its plastic container, gently squeeze the sides of the pot to release the soil.
- Remove any remaining soil from your succulent’s roots by gently crumbling it.
- After setting the succulent in its new pot, top out the pot with extra dirt to keep it in place.
- Now is an excellent time to water your succulent if you haven’t in a while. If you’re unsure, give your succulent a week or so to adjust to its new environment before watering. Then, wait until the soil is fully dry before watering it once more (usually about two weeks).
What depth is ideal for a succulent pot?
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.
Are succulents tolerant to root confinement?
Neither of them. They would continue to live while rootbound for a long time, but I don’t believe any succulents fare better than others. It is significantly more challenging for a grower to overwater a plant when it is rootbound since the plant readily and quickly consumes the water that is available. As a result, although it may appear that a rootbound plant thrives better because you didn’t drown it in water, you are actually preventing it from thriving.
It’s comparable to questioning which women look better in corsets. There is no answer, but it sure is harder to eat a lot if your waistline is constricted by gear, haha. So while some women may experience weight loss while wearing a corset, no one achieves “better” results by having their organs compressed to the point of preventing breathing. However, just because things appear better doesn’t guarantee they are better for the experience. 🙂
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.
Succulents—can they be kept in small pots?
Don’t you share Nell and my passion for succulents? By include them in your design, you may add some life and light to a dark spot in your house. And if you pair those succulents with the appropriate container, everyone wins. I put up this collection of 20 compact succulent pots to make your buying easier.
Succulents can thrive for a long time in these little pots because they don’t have extensive root systems. Because succulents don’t like to have their roots maintained consistently wet, it’s preferable if the pots contain a drain hole. Put at least an inch or two layers of stones on the bottom of the pot if there isn’t a drain hole, and reduce the amount and frequency of watering.
Remember that succulents are not low light plants when deciding where to place them. As much natural light as you can provide them with, the better. Check out this post on two incredibly simple techniques to propagate succulents if you already have them and want to grow more of them to plant in your new pots.
Although selecting pots is enjoyable, it may be overwhelming. These are my current favorites among the many different fashions that are available. Even if there are still many options, they are all conveniently located for easy browsing.
There may be affiliate links in this article. Our policies may be found here. Although there won’t be a price increase for you, Joy Us Garden will make a tiny commission.
After repotting, should you water a succulent?
The reputation of succulents as being “easy. There is still a lot to learn about these oh-so-Pinterest-worthy plants, even though they would make decent starter plants for someone with a less-than-green thumb. Your succulent’s luscious green leaves could turn mushy, wilted, and brown if it doesn’t receive enough sunlight, water, soil, and container. If one of your summertime projects involves repotting succulents, be sure to read these six suggestions first.
Understand your plants before repotting succulents
Your local garden center was your first stop for an equally colorful assortment of succulents after you pinned a picture of a trendy combination of succulents in a stunning container. You then ordered our Large Mixed Material Terrarium to replicate the Pin. Understanding each plant’s needs for heat, water, and sunlight is crucial before beginning the job. Many people believe that all succulents require the same types of growing circumstances, however each species actually has different requirements. Only a few succulents will grow if you place several of plants in a pot with different requirements. You can repot your succulents into communal containers once you’ve assessed your plants and determined which ones would thrive together. More advice on how to do this may be found in our piece on repotting succulents into terrariums.
Beware of glued-on accessories
You recently purchased a cute prefabricated succulent garden from a big-box retailer, and you now want to repot the plants. What you might not know is that these premade succulent gardens frequently have “accessories” like rocks and fake flowers glued onto the soil and the plants. Repotting your succulents will help them thrive because the glued-on rocks can actually prevent them from getting the water they need. It can be time-consuming and tedious to remove each glued-on accessory, but your succulents will thank you when they’re free!
Don’t skip the drainage rocks
You undoubtedly already know that succulents require adequate drainage, and you may have also heard that adding rocks or stones to the bottom of your planter will facilitate this. A drainage layer is required if a container lacks drainage holes, but it can also add a lovely ornamental touch to a glass container or terrarium. You need a well-draining soil in addition to a drainage layer to assist shed excess water, which avoids root rot. This brings us to…
Supplement with perlite
When it comes to giving your repotted succulents a well-draining soil, you’re halfway there if you bought a succulent potting mix at your local garden center. Your plants will prefer a 1:1 ratio of succulent soil and perlite, despite the fact that many potting mixes promise to have all the nutrients and characteristics you need when repotting succulents. Perlite helps with water drainage when well included with your potting soil. You may get it from any garden supply store.
Don’t water right away
Your first reaction after rehoming a plant might be to water it. However, it’s recommended to wait a few days before watering succulents after repotting. If you attempt to water your plants too soon, the roots will not have had time to heal and will be vulnerable to root rot.
Avoid sunburn
Make cautious to protect your succulents against sunburns the same way you protect your skin from sunburn! A freshly potted succulent will frequently develop wilted, mushy leaves and brown blotches, also known as a succulent sunburn, if placed in direct sunlight. It’s crucial to gradually acclimate succulents to direct sunlight when repotting them.