Okay, so I recently repotted a bunch of my succulents, and I was a little unsure about whether or not to water them right away. I’ve heard different things, so I decided to do my own little experiment and document the whole process.
Getting Started: The Repotting
First, I gathered all my supplies: my succulents that needed bigger pots, some fresh succulent soil mix (gotta have that good drainage!), and my new pots. I also made sure I had my trusty gardening gloves and a small trowel.
I carefully removed each succulent from its old pot, gently loosening the soil around the roots. If the roots were super tightly packed, I teased them apart a bit to encourage new growth.
Then, I added a layer of the new soil mix to the bottom of the new pot, placed the succulent in, and filled in around the sides with more soil. I made sure not to bury the leaves, just the roots!
The Big Question: To Water or Not to Water?
This is where things got interesting. My research was conflicting.
- Some people said to water immediately to help the soil settle and the roots get established.
- Others said to wait a few days, or even a week, because the roots are fragile after repotting and can be prone to rot if they sit in wet soil.
I decided to try both methods. I had several of the same type of succulent, so I repotted half of them and watered them lightly right away. I repotted the other half and left them completely dry.
The Waiting Game (and Observations)
I placed all the newly repotted succulents in a spot with bright, indirect light. And then I waited…and watched.
For the ones I watered immediately, I checked the soil every day. It stayed a little damp for a couple of days, then dried out. I noticed one of them seemed a tiny bit droopy, but it perked up after a few more days.
For the ones I didn’t water, I also checked the soil and observed the leaves. They looked pretty much the same as before, maybe a little thirsty, but not drastically so.
The Results (and My Conclusion)
After about a week, I gave the unwatered succulents a good drink. Everyone seemed happy! Both groups of succulents looked healthy and showed signs of settling into their new homes.
So, what did I learn? Honestly, it seems like both methods work. I think the key is to be gentle with the roots during repotting, use well-draining soil, and avoid overwatering, whether you water right away or wait a few days. For me, i will wait for a couple of days to water, just for safety, It is not easy to get rot.
Next time, I’ll probably wait a couple of days before watering, just to be on the safe side. But it’s good to know that there’s some flexibility, and my succulents aren’t going to die if I water them immediately (as long as I don’t drown them!).
