Repot Your Succulents Like A Pro With These Helpful Tips

We love our adorable succulent plants for their unique plump leaves and the fact that they are very forgiving when we forget to water them. Eventually, though,there are a few reasons you may want to eventually repot your succulents. Your succulent will need a new pot after it outgrows the old one. If the plant becomes so large that it starts to lean, it needs a larger or heavier pot. If the roots start to stick out of the pot's drainage holes, that also signifies that it has outgrown its current vessel.

Another reason for repotting a succulent is that the pot it's in doesn't have sufficient drainage, which can lead to root rot. Or you may find that the soil dries quickly, requiring constant watering. Succulents can also grow offshoots or little baby succulents. If you see a few of these sprout up, it's time to separate them into new pots. Just make sure to avoid repotting your succulent if it is blooming, as it can disrupt the flowering process. 

When repotting your succulent, you'll need a new pot at least 10 percent deeper and wider than the original. It should also have adequate drainage holes. You'll also need soil and a trowel. Ensure your plant is well watered and its soil is moist for a few days before you switch it into a new pot. 

To extract your plant from its original container, you'll take the pot and turn it on its side. Give the pot a little shake and tap it at the bottom to help loosen the soil. You may want to consider using a stick and running it around the sides of the pot to loosen the soil further. Then, you'll gently pull the plant at the base of its stem to free it from the pot. Do not forcefully pull the plant. 

If you have to break the old pot to get the plant out, then so be it, but it's important to be gentle with the plant itself. Once the plant is free, you'll want to pat away as much soil as possible from its roots. If the roots are tangled, try to smooth them out or trim them if they have become too long.

Pour new soil into the new pot, leaving enough room to place your plant inside and cover its roots with more soil. Make sure the soil is loose enough so that your roots move freely. Pop your succulent in and make sure it sits straight in the pot. Pour in more soil and tap it down around your plant so that the roots are secure in the soil and the succulent doesn't move around.

It's important to ensure that the succulent's flowered part sits on top of the soil. Placing it too far deep into the soil can lead to root rot. Keep your plant in a warm, dim area, out of direct sunlight. You can wait a few days before you water your plant so it gets used to its new soil. You might even want to wait until you see it start to grow or bud again. 

Take care not to overwater your plant the first time you water after replanting to avoid root rot. Wait until the soil dries out before its next watering. You can put your plant back in brighter sunlight, or whatever sunlight it requires, when you are confident it is acclimated to its new pot. Wait at least a few weeks to fertilize your succulent. Make sure to observe your plant during this time to make sure it's not showing any distress.