Okay, so, I’ve got this thing for succulents. They’re just so chill, you know? But repotting them? That’s a whole different story. And the big question always is: to water or not to water after repotting? I’ve done it a bunch of times, so let me break down how I usually go about it.
First off, I get all my stuff ready. This includes the new pot, which is usually just a bit bigger than the old one. Also the soil is important, I make sure it’s a mix that drains well. You can’t just use any dirt, this is key for succulents.
Then, I gently take the succulent out of its old pot. Sometimes, I gotta tap the bottom or squeeze the sides to loosen it up. Once it’s out, I take a good look at the roots. I shake off any loose soil and trim away any roots that look dead or too long.
Next, I fill the new pot with some soil, make a little hole in the middle, and pop the succulent in. I add more soil around it, making sure the roots are covered, but I don’t pack it down too hard. You want the roots to be able to breathe.
Now, here’s the part everyone’s curious about: watering. Here’s what I do: I wait. Yeah, I don’t water it right away. I usually give it a few days, sometimes even a week. Why? Because repotting can stress the plant out, and those roots might have gotten a bit damaged during the process. They need time to heal first.
When I finally do water, I make sure not to drown it. Just a gentle watering until I see water coming out of the drainage holes. And then, I wait again until the soil is completely dry before I water it again. It’s a bit like when you discontinue watering a bulb plant after it flowers and let the foliage dry up.
- Wait to water: Give it a few days to a week after repotting.
- Water gently: Don’t flood the pot, just enough to moisten the soil.
- Check for dryness: Only water again when the soil is completely dry.
I’ve found that this method works best for me. It’s like when you let tulip bulbs recover in soil instead of trying to regrow them in water right away. It’s all about giving the plant time to adjust and heal. Just imagine planting a tree, you wouldn’t want to mess up the root growth by overwatering, right?
So, that’s my routine for repotting succulents. It might seem like a lot, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty straightforward. And your succulents will thank you for it!
A little tip from me
Don’t forget that every succulent is a bit different. Some might need more or less time before that first watering. Just keep an eye on them, and you’ll figure out what works best for your plants.
