Alright, let’s talk about this whole repotting succulents thing. People always ask me, “Do you water them right after you stick ’em in a new pot?” And I used to, I really did. Seemed like the logical thing, right? New home, give ’em a drink. Welcome to the neighborhood, little buddy!
Well, turns out, that was probably not the best move. I learned that the hard way, lost a few good plants back in the day. Made me feel like I just couldn’t keep some of ’em alive. It’s funny how you think you’re doing something helpful, and you’re actually just making things worse.
So, here’s what I do now, and it’s made a world of difference. It’s not some big secret, but it seems like a lot of folks skip this.
First off, a few days before I even think about yanking a succulent out of its old pot, I give it a good watering. Not soaking wet, mind you, but a decent drink. This just helps the plant be a bit more… sturdy, I guess, for the move. Less stress, maybe? I don’t know the science, but it feels right, and it seems to work.
Then comes the repotting day. I get my new pot ready, make sure it’s got good drainage – that’s super important, but a whole other story. I mix up my gritty soil, because succulents hate wet feet. I carefully take the plant out, try not to break too many roots, though some breakage is gonna happen. Shake off the old dirt, pop it in the new pot, fill it up with the fresh soil. Easy peasy.
And here’s the kicker, the part everyone gets antsy about, including me sometimes, even now.
You do NOT water it. Seriously. Just don’t.
I know, it looks thirsty. The soil is dry. You just want to give it that comforting first drink in its new home. But you gotta resist. You gotta let it sit there, dry, for a good 5 to 7 days. Yeah, a whole week, sometimes.
Why? Well, from what I’ve gathered, and what my own plants have basically screamed at me over the years, those little roots got a bit beat up during the move. Some are probably broken, a bit bruised. If you water them right away, those open wounds are just sitting in damp soil, and that’s like an open invitation for rot. And rot, my friends, is the enemy.
Think of it like this: if you got a cut, you wouldn’t immediately go soak it in a muddy puddle, right? You’d let it dry out a bit, let it start to heal, form a callus. Same thing for the succulent roots. They need that dry period to kind of seal up any damage before you introduce moisture.
It’s not like you’re ignoring your plant. You’re actually giving it a chance to recover. It’s tough love, succulent style.
I used to be so impatient. I’d repot, water, and then wonder why a week later my echeveria was looking mushy at the base. Since I started this whole “wait to water” routine, my success rate with repotted succulents has shot way up. Fewer casualties, happier plants, happier me. It’s not some complicated horticultural trick. It’s just a bit of patience.
So yeah, that’s my experience. Give those roots a break. Let them settle in and heal up a bit before you hit them with the watering can. It might feel wrong at first, but trust me, your succulents will thank you for it later. Or at least, they won’t rot, which is pretty much the same thing in plant language.
