Repotting succulents properly is important to keep them happy and healthy. Luckily, learning how to repot succulents is easier than your think! Continue reading to learn more about when to repot succulents, the best type of soil and pots to use, tips and tricks to make it easy, and what you should do after repotting.
How Often Should you Repot Succulents
In general, you should repot your succulents once every one to two years. If the succulent has not outgrown it’s pot in that time, you can simply change the soil and repot in the same container.
Changing the soil helps restore nutrients your succulent needs to be healthy, aerates the soil, and provides enough space for the plant to grow. Aerating the soil keeps the roots healthy and prevent root rot.
Before Repotting Succulents
Before you repot your succulent, make sure the soil is dry.
Wait a week after watering before repotting your succulents, because you do not want to move them when their soil is wet.
Best Pot for Succulents
The best pot for succulents is a plain, terracotta pot with a drainage hole. This helps remove extra water and prevents root rot.
When repotting, choose a pot that is about 1.5 to 2 inches longer in diameter than the current pot. If the pot is too large for the plant, the extra potting soil retains water, which can cause root rot.
Learn more about succulent root rot and how to prevent it here
I generally avoid planting succulents in glass containers or terrariums because they do not drain well and retain moisture for a longer time, leading to unhappy succulents.
If you really want to plant your succulent in one of these containers, you should water less frequently and with a lesser amount than you would normally to account for the container.
Best Soil for Succulents
Succulents are pretty hardy and do not need a rich, dense soil. In fact, in their native habitats they are often found growing in rocky or sandy environments. Choosing a well-draining soil when repotting succulents is important to prevent root rot.
Learn more about watering succulents properly here
Regular potting soil is not the best choice for succulents.
Succulents need to be potted in a well-draining soil mix. This allows their roots to breathe and prevents over watering, which is a common cause of succulent death. Choose a soil mix that drains evenly, does not clump up, and has a loose texture.
I like to use a 70:30 ratio of succulent soil to perlite. This mix will be well-aerated and keep your plants happy. It is also very cheap and easy to make. You can add some sand or gravel to the mix as well to increase the grittiness.
How to Repot Succulents
Start off by turning your plant and pot on their side. Grab the base of the plant’s stem and gently pull it.
Slowly remove the succulent from the pot and clean the soil off it’s roots. If the pot is large, you may need a shovel to help you. Be careful to minimize damage to the root system (if you do have a few roots break, don’t worry. Your plant will be able to heal).
Carefully examine the roots and remove any rotting or dead roots. These are black or dark brown in color and slimy. Healthy roots are light yellow to light brown in color. If some roots are very long, you can trim them a bit.
If you trim any roots, leave the succulent outside for 2 to 4 days so the open cuts can dry off and heal (do not keep the succulent in direct sun during this time).
If the roots appear tangled together, loosen them with your finger. This helps spread them apart so they can stabilize the plant and grow further in their new pot.
This is also a good time to remove any dried up leaves at the base that are difficult to reach when it is potted.
Fill your new pot up with a well-draining soil mix, until the level of where you want to plant your succulent. Dig a shallow hole and insert your succulent, making sure it is in the middle of the pot. Keep your succulent as deep in the soil as it was in it’s prior pot. Planting too deep could cause rot, and planting too shallow could cause the plant to tip out.
Make sure you do not cover any leaves, or let the leaves sit directly on top of the soil, because that could cause root rot, as the leaves would absorb too much moisture from the soil.
Once your plant is in place, pack soil around the base to secure it in place.
After repotting, keep your succulent in a warm and sunny location. Avoid exposing the succulent to intense, midday sun for a few weeks until it forms new roots.
Water your succulent a week after repotting so the roots have time to acclimate to their new environment.
How to Repot a Trailing Succulent
Repotting trailing succulents, such as string of pearls or burro’s tail, can be a bit trickier because their stems can grow quite long and it is not as easy to lift them out of their pot.
Lay your plant and it’s pot on it’s side, and arrange all the stems in one direction. Hold the base of the plant with all the stems with one hand, and with the other hand turn the pot gently to separate the two. Slowly twist the plant out, then repot in the same way as described above.
Be aware: Burro’s tail succulents drop their leaves quite easily, especially when repotting. If you lose some leaves, don’t worry, and just propagate them.
How to Repot a Cactus
Wear gloves to protect your hands from the thorns. Roll a towel or newspaper completely around the cactus. Loosen the soil around the plant with your hands or a small shovel. Turn the pot and plant on the side. Gently pull the plant out of the pot using the towel. Then repot using the same instructions as above.
Learn more about cactus care with this complete guide
How to Repot Succulents from Cuttings
You may have a succulent cutting you took from an etiolated succulent, or that you received from a friend’s garden. When you take a cutting, leave about 2 inches of clean stem at the bottom of the plant, below the top rosette. Remove leaves that are on the bottom of the stem, so you have a clean area to plant. Stick it in well-draining soil in a small pot.
Learn more about succulent propagation
Once you have planted your succulent cutting, move it to a warm location, with indirect sun. Water a few days after repotting. Succulent cuttings need less sun and slightly more water than their adult counterparts while their roots grow stronger.
How to Know When to Repot Succulents
In general, you want to repot your succulents once every one to two years. However, there are a few instances where you should repot your succulents before that.
Repot New Succulents from the Nursery
It is always a good idea to repot your succulent when you bring it home from the nursery. You do not want to keep succulents in the plastic pot for too long since it provides poor circulation and impedes growth. The soil is often over watered and not ideal for succulents, so it is important to transplant the succulent to newer, healthier soil. Do not reuse the soil when repotting.
Try to repot your succulents within one week of bringing them home.
Squeeze the sides of the plastic pot to loosen the soil. Remove the succulent from the pot and gently clean the soil off it’s roots. Examine the plant carefully for any signs of pests. Fill a new pot with fresh, well-draining soil, and plant the succulent using the tips above.
Repot Succulents that have Outgrown their Container
Signs that your succulent has outgrown it’s pot include:
- A succulent that has grown top heavy and is tipping over
- Roots growing out of the drainage hole or coming out of the side
- New growth is stunted or misshapen due to lack of space
- The plant looks unhealthy despite proper sun and water
- Water does not soak through the pot
If you notice your succulent has outgrown it’s pot, you can move it to a larger one. Choose a pot that is 1.5 to 2 inches wider in diameter.
When to Repot Baby Succulents
Succulents such as Aloe, Haworthia, or Hens and Chicks propagate by producing offsets, or “pups” at the base of the plant. You do not want to remove small pups from the main plant too early because they need time to grow stronger before being on their own.
Wait until they are about 1/4 to 1/3 the size of the mother plant, or a few inches in diameter before removing.
Gently remove the main plant and the babies from the pot and clean the soil off their roots. Tease apart the roots with your fingers. If the pup remains attached, use a sharp pair of clean scissors to separate the roots, giving more roots to pup. Plant the pup in a small pot and keep it in a warm location. Wait a week before watering again.
Of course, if you like the clumping look with pups next to the mother plant, you can keep them in place and it is not necessary to repot them.
Routine Repotting
Besides the above scenarios, you should repot your succulents once every one to two years. This aerates the soil, add nutrients and keep your plants healthy. If your succulent has not outgrown it’s pot, replant in the same one with new soil.
Best Time to Repot Succulents
Spring is the best time for repotting succulents. Avoid repotting during the winter because that is when many succulents become dormant and need time to rest.
You also want to avoid repotting during the summer because that is when succulents are actively growing, so changing containers could disrupt that process.
Never repot a succulent if it is flowering, because this may stop the blooming process and cause it to fall off the succulent.
Wait a week after watering before you repot your succulents so that the soil has time to dry out.
Do you Water Succulents After Repotting?
After repotting, wait at least a week before watering your succulent again. This gives time for the roots to heal and the plant to adjust to it’s new surroundings.
That is how to repot succulents! Repotting succulents is important for healthy growth so your plants can thrive. It is important to choose the right type of pot and soil when repotting succulents to prevent root rot. While repotting succulents is not difficult, it is important to follow the above steps for best results.
Have any questions about how to repot succulents that I did not answer? Let me know down below.
Learn more about general succulent care from these articles:
