How to Repot Succulents: Best Soil for Repotting

Succulents are plants known for their ability to retain water in arid, hot climates, such as deserts, sea coasts, and dry lakes. The term “succulent” encompasses a variety of different plant families and genera like Aeonium, Agave, Aloe, Echeveria, and Graptopetalum with shared characteristics, including:

• Habitat: Many succulent species grow in regions that are uninhabitable for other plants. Succulents make great houseplants due to their minimal care requirements and unique plant structures.
• Thick, fleshy structure: Succulents often have thick, fleshy plant structures that allow them to store water.
• Stomata closure: Succulents close their stomata, small openings on the leaves and stems, during the day and open them at night when the climate is cooler to avoid excess water loss.

You should repot your succulents every two years at the start of the growing season, typically in early spring or fall. To determine whether your succulent needs repotting, check the roots of your plant. If the succulent roots are growing out of the drainage hole, then it’s time to move your succulent to a larger container.

Another way to check if your succulent needs repotting is to see if any new baby plants (called “pups”) are growing on your succulent. You can easily propagate most succulents by division. Remove the succulent from its pot and carefully divide the mother plant from its pups. Repot each plant separately.

Succulents prefer dry soils with good drainage, so a porous sandy potting mix works best for growing healthy succulent plants. If you don’t have a sandy soil mix, you can also use potting soil or cactus soil containing pumice or perlite, which promote drainage. Clay soils or regular potting soils, which do not drain as well, can cause root rot due to excess water buildup.

There are several reasons you may consider transplanting your succulents, including that their current pots are too small, which makes it hard for their root systems to grow. Repotting your succulents also provides the plant with a nutrient-dense, aerated fresh soil mix.

1. 1. Gather supplies. The repotting process is easy when you have the right supplies. Along with well-draining soil, you’ll also need a new pot with a hole at the bottom. Select a larger pot than the one you currently have: The plant’s new home should be at least ten percent larger than your succulent. Terra cotta planters are ideal since they draw out excess moisture, but any type of pot with a drainage hole will support the growth of succulent plants. Although not necessary, a small, handheld gardening shovel also helps when repotting your succulents.
2. 2. Prepare the new pot. Using your hand or gardening shovel, scoop out the potting mix and fill the new pot with the soil about three-quarters of the way up. Mix and loosen the new soil in the pot to prevent it from sticking to the sides of the container.
   
3. 3. Remove the plant from its old pot. Turn the pot on its side and, using a small gardening shovel or your hands, gently loosen the soil, shaking and tapping to guide the plant out of the old pot gently. If your succulent has grown offshoots, gently pry the new succulents away from the original plant to propagate in separate pots.
4. 4. Inspect the roots. If your plant has suffered from root rot, you may want to give the roots a closer look before repotting your succulent. Carefully brush as much of the possibly contaminated soil off the roots as possible, and use scissors or garden shears to trim off any black or brown roots.
5. 5. Transfer the plant to a new pot. Place the succulent in the prepared pot. Add more potting mix to the pot, ensuring the succulent roots are fully covered in potting soil while the succulent leaves are entirely above the top of the soil line. Lightly water your repotted succulent, allowing any excess water to drain through the bottom of the pot.

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