If you’ve recently bought an aloe plant and the roots are starting to emerge in the small shrubs, it’s time to learn how to repot succulent plants. Repotting is also essential for succulent plants. Just because they can survive with little care doesn’t mean they should be completely neglected
The point of repotting is that the roots of the plant keep expanding in the soil, but there comes a point when the walls of the pot no longer allow the roots to continue, so they try to make their way somewhere. The free path will be out of the soil, which is not the most efficient or aesthetic way to root succulent plants. So the solution is to repot the succulent plant into a larger pot.
The best time to replant succulent plants is in early spring. These types of plants are most active in the spring and live their quiet lives in the winter. So the best decision when repotting succulents is to do it just before spring, to give them enough time to acclimatize to their new location.
What are the steps to repot succulent plants?
The steps for repotting succulent plants are described below.
- Removing the plant from the existing pot
- Cleaning the roots
- Moving the plant to the larger pot and filling it with fresh soil
- Water the plant
Once replanting is complete, return the plant to its place and allow it to enjoy and acclimatize to its new location.
1. Removing the plant from the existing pot
The purpose of this step is to remove and separate the succulent from the existing pot. The easiest way to do this is to take hold of the strongest, thickest part of the stem and pull the plant away while loosening the roots from the soil. You can also do the loosening with a knife. Don’t worry, you won’t harm the plant. You can tilt the pot sideways and gently tap the bottom of the pot to exert a counterforce on the roots to help them come out from the ground.
2. Cleaning the roots
Let’s examine the roots of the succulent. Loosen any roots that are knotted together so that they are freer. Feel free to cut them back to strengthen them and encourage new growth.
3. Moving the plant to the larger pot and filling it with fresh soil
Place the succulent in its new location, place it in the center of the pot and then fill the pot two-thirds full. The filled soil can also be from the old pot. Next, try again to place the succulent in the center of the pot if it has moved and fill in the remaining one third with the new, fresh, nutrient-rich soil.
4. Water the plant
The last step in replanting is to water the plant. For this step, it is important to water carefully and slowly. You need just enough water to be absorbed by the soil and not create a layer of water on top of the soil. Drip off the water when the soil can no longer absorb so much water by tilting the pot sideways and draining off the excess water.
When should you repot succulent plants?
The repotting of succulents is seasonal, similar to other varieties, so the best time is early spring. In spring, succulents are more active, they become stronger and grow new roots. For this reason, replanting should be done directly in early spring to give the succulent enough time to grow new roots.
Repotting succulent plants is not recommended in winter, as they are dormant and have much less tolerance. In any case, wait until spring to make sure you don’t do any damage.
How often should you repot your succulent plants?
Due to the growth of succulent plants, these plants need to be replanted every one and a half to two years. This is only the case if the new pot is about twice the size of the previous one. It is important to watch for the appearance of the root in the soil, as this is the most telltale sign that you need to repot your succulent plant.
What items are needed to replant succulents?
The essential items for repotting succulents can be read below:
- New pots: The new pot must be significantly larger than the existing one. In general, the new pot should be one and a half to two times the size of the existing one.
- Fresh soil: As the new pot will be bigger, you’ll need to put in more soil, so get new, fresh, nutrient-rich soil.
- Knife (optional): You need a knife to loosen or cut the roots, but you don’t necessarily need to use one, because your succulent may not have roots that are clumped together.
- Water: Of course, you also need water for replanting. As the new soil that has been added is dry, the succulents will need to be watered again to ensure that they receive the correct amount of water.
What is the best soil mix for repotting succulents?
A well-draining soil mix is the best choice for succulent plants. As mentioned above, do not flood the plant with water. However, attention should also be given not to allow the soil to drain too quickly. A suitable soil mix is sandy and may contain pumice and perlite. These materials cause the water to run off correctly. If the run-off is too fast, the roots may rot.
What to avoid when repotting succulents?
Common replanting mistakes should be avoided. So do not uproot the plant from the ground, because this is the most common mistake that beginners make.
Should you repot succulent plants after buying them?
No, you must not repot succulent plants after buying them. When a new plant moves to a new place, it takes a lot of stress and energy for it to get used to its new location. Its place is perfectly suitable and it only needs to be replanted when it is visibly unable to take root and is pushing its way to the surface.
How to repot an aloe plant?
The repotting procedure is the same for succulent plants and no different for aloe. The aloe must be placed into a larger pot so that its roots can continue to grow uninterrupted. The new pot should be filled with a well-drained soil mix to prevent the roots from rotting.
Can you save an aloe plant from dying by repotting?
Yes, you can save an aloe plant from dying by repotting. Rodable roots can cause negative effects on the aloe plant, even leading to its death. To prevent this, the succulent should be replanted in a new, clean pot in fresh, nutrient-rich soil. The rotten roots should be cut off. This method can be used to revive the aloe plant.
