Succulents have become one of the most popular houseplants. You can buy them almost anywhere, there are different types of plants you can choose between, and they require minimum care. Plus, they look great.
If you have never had one of these before, the whole process of maintaining and repotting it may seem a bit intimidating. However, this is not the case. The most common questions people have is regarding the repotting, and in this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about it.
When to repot a succulent?
First and foremost, we need to answer this question. Should you do it? Yes, absolutely. When should you do it? You should repot it before its growing season in early speaking. Keep in mind that this is true for most succulents, but there are some exceptions.
Due to this reason, you need to learn all the details regarding the species you own. The easiest way to do this is to ask the vendor when you are on the hunt for succulents for sale or at least ask about the plan’s name, and then research it online.
What are the telltale signs?
Some people would say you should do it as soon as you bring it home, but there are some telltale signs. First of all, if you can see the roots or if they start growing through the drainage hole, it means that the current pot is too small and that you will need a bigger one. Also, if your new succulent is placed in a black plastic container, you should repot it as soon as possible.
Furthermore, it goes without saying that completing this task is crucial if you notice that the soil quality is poor. There is no point in keeping it that way because the succulent can’t grow, and the chances are that it will probably die fairly soon.
Now, there are many signs of poor soil quality. For example, it cannot absorb the water, but instead, it keeps it on the surface, or it has contracted from the side of the pot and dried out.
Finally, you should still repot the succulent even if you don’t notice any of these signs. Generally speaking, this should be done approximately every two years, and make sure to do it before the growing season.
How to repot a succulent?
Now we have reached an interesting part. As already said, this probably appears to be a complex task, but it really isn’t. Here is the list of the tools you will need and some tips on how to do it.
How to choose the pot?
At first, this probably seems like an odd question. You can choose any pot you want, right? Well, this is not necessarily true since there are some guidelines you need to follow. First thing first, you need to think about the pot size.
The golden rule is to always go with a pot that is slightly bigger than the succulent’s base. These plants don’t need a lot of room, and the thing is that if you go with a much larger pot, the succulent will spread out its roots unnecessarily instead of focusing on boosting it.
When it doesn’t have too much space, it is basically forced to grow a strong root system. Furthermore, make sure that the pot includes drainage holes at the bottom. Even though these plants do not require as much water as others do, you should still go with a pot with drainage holes just to increase your chances of growing a succulent successfully.
What are the steps of this process?
Now that you have the perfect pot, it is time to initiate this process. The very first thing you have to ensure is that you have kept the succulent hydrated in the past 48 hours. Don’t forget that repotting can put a lot of strain on the plant, which is why you need to complete it carefully and at a specific period of time.
Before putting it into new soil and pot, you should try to remove as much dirt as you can from the succulent’s root. You should be able to do this by gently tapping it or brushing it. You can also use the water to clean it, but if you do, make sure to dry it off completely before repotting it.
This can take anywhere between 3 and 5 days, so consider if you have enough time, and you should also think about trimming the roots a bit if they are too long.
Finally, it is time to put the plant into the new pot. However, there is another step you should complete. Fill out two-thirds of the container with the soil first. Only once you do this can you put the plant in it and start covering the roots by adding more dirt, and that is pretty much it. Once it is stable, you can decorate the surface with colorful rocks or sand.
How to take care of it?
Lastly, all you have to do is take care of your favorite succulent. The most important thing you have to do is ensure it has enough sunlight (at least six hours every day). What’s more, if you keep it on a shelf, you should rotate the container every once in a while. Why? This is the only way to ensure that it receives enough light on all sides.
Next, when it comes to watering, you should adjust it to the season. Obviously, plants need more water during the developing period than during the dormant one. Also, you should make sure to water the soil directly and keep the leaves clean by gently brushing them as often as necessary.
Wrapping up
To sum up, these are some essential things you need to know about repotting, growing, and caring for a succulent. As you can see, you don’t have to worry about many things, and you should be fine as long as you follow some of these general guidelines.