Although many cacti and succulents like a tight pot, there will come a time when you need to repot, or maybe you want to take it out of its pot and put it in something nicer. But how do you know when a succulent or cactus needs repotting? Here are a few signs:
- If you can see that the roots are tightly packed or sticking out of the drainage holes
- When watered, if the water sits at the top of the soil and does not soak through
- When the plant looks like it is too big for the pot
- Or if the soil has become poor quality, such as dries out quickly or has come away from the sides of the pot.
A general rule of thumb is to repot every two years, at least to provide fresh, fertile soil. The best time to repot is at the beginning of the growing season for the highest chance of survival. Early spring is the optimal period for most cases, but note that some start growing in fall or winter.
Repotting
1. Remove the plant from its original pot. You will see that the root system is really packed and has probably been choking in that pot!
2. Open up the compacted soil and gently spread out the roots. Clear away the old soil, but be careful not to pull too hard or break the roots. It is helpful to use a chopstick or stick to remove the old soil. Also, look out for dead roots, which should be pruned off. You will want to choose a bigger pot than the current one, but not too big.
3. Fill the pot about ½ full with potting mixture, put the plant on the mixture, and add more of the potting mixture. You want to press the soil gently down to make it compact again. Do not water the plants immediately after repotting. Instead, wait a week to give them some time to adjust to the new soil.
Source: apairandasparediy.com
Links
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus