Repotting succulents

Step by step

1. Step 1

   Check your succulent or cactus for signs that it needs a new pot

   Watch for roots that circle inside the pot, roots pushing out through the drainage holes, or soil that dries out fast after you water it. A pot-bound plant has simply filled its container with roots, and the fix is to move it into a larger pot. A rootbound snake plant can even crack a clay pot.

2. Step 2

   Know that many succulents and cacti are happy to stay snug in their pots

   Jade plants can live for years while root-bound, so they don't need repotting on a fixed schedule. Cacti generally prefer to stay a little pot bound and should be repotted only as needed. Holiday cacti flower best when kept somewhat pot bound and need repotting only about once every three years. A Thanksgiving cactus does well slightly pot-bound too, so it doesn't need frequent repotting. Aloe is the exception: replanting it about every two years helps refresh the soil and reduce crowding of its roots.

3. Step 3

   Choose a time based on the plant's own needs rather than the calendar

   Spring works best for most succulents and cacti, including Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti, while jade plants do best repotted just as new growth starts. If you have a flowering cactus, wait until the blooms fade and avoid repotting it while it is in flower.

4. Step 4

   Use a soil mix that drains fast and lets air reach the roots

   A packaged cactus potting mix works well, or you can make your own from equal parts peat-based potting soil and very coarse sand or grit. For jade plants, use a cactus mix with added organic matter. Or make a homemade blend of one part sterilized organic soil, one part sphagnum peat moss, and three parts coarse sand. For aloe, combine one part potting soil, one part sand, and one part perlite or lava rock. A simple one-to-one mix of potting soil and coarse sand also works for most cacti and succulents. Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti need good aeration in their mix. Aim for roughly 60 to 80 percent potting soil with 20 to 40 percent perlite. Cactus plants can actually handle a richer soil as long as it drains freely, and a packaged commercial cactus soil works fine. Echinopsis does well in a cactus potting mix, which provides good drainage. Thanksgiving cactus also grows well in a moist, well-drained cactus or succulent mix. Fast-draining soil matters most for jade plants, since it helps them avoid root rot. Kalanchoe prefers a well-aerated mix such as 60 percent peat moss and 40 percent perlite.

5. Step 5

   Pick a container that's only slightly bigger than the current one

   Too large a pot can hold too much moist soil and lead to rot. Stick to no more than a 2 to 3 inch increase in diameter. For aloe, leave about 1 to 1.5 inches between the root ball and the edge of the pot. For a holiday cactus, a slightly larger pot is all you need. For a Kalanchoe, shift it to a slightly larger pot once flowering has ended. Whatever you choose, make sure the pot has a drainage hole. A pot that is too large can also look out of balance with the plant. A clay pot gives a top-heavy cactus more stability. It also lets roots and soil dry out faster for better air exchange.

6. Step 6

   Protect your hands when you repot a cactus by wearing heavy leather gloves or wrapping the plant in several layers of newspaper

   Use pasteurized soil, and make sure both the pot and the growing medium are sterile. If you find only a few infected roots, cut them out and repot the plant in sterile soil. If most of the roots look dark, soft, and dead, it's better to discard the plant.

7. Step 7

   Remove the plant from its old pot and loosen the roots gently

   Tease the roots apart so they are no longer densely matted or circling the rootball.

8. Step 8

   Set the root ball about one inch below the rim of the new pot

   For aloe, position the plant so its leaves sit just above the soil line. If a jade plant has grown older and top-heavy, move it into a larger, heavy pot to keep it from tipping over.

9. Step 9

   Water the plant in its old pot and let it rest about an hour before you repot it

   Then water it thoroughly in its new pot and soil. After repotting a cactus, wait several days before you water it again. For a jade plant, let the soil dry out before you water it again. Never let a repotted cactus or succulent stand in water, and choose pots with large drainage holes that let extra water filter out. As with all succulents, it's best to err on the side of underwatering. Overwatering is a common problem: it lowers the oxygen available to the roots and encourages root disease. Going forward, let the soil dry out completely between waterings, then water thoroughly until it runs through the drainage holes. During the low-light winter months, water cacti and succulents just enough to keep them from shrinking and withering.

10. Step 10

    Wait about four months before you feed a newly repotted plant

    Skip fertilizer for repotted plants, and for cacti in general, during winter. Cacti only need fertilizer once or twice a year, in late spring or summer when they are actively growing. Use a houseplant food that's higher in phosphorus than nitrogen, and dilute it to half the recommended strength.