Transplanting Succulents – Everything You Need to Know

Succulents and growing cacti indoors earn people’s love and devotion, not only because they look pleasant and well put-together. They also have unique varieties like the world’s best purple succulents, mysterious black succulents, gorgeous green rose succulents, and the premium pink succulents also give its growing bragging rights for simply owning these rare pieces. 

It’s a fact that ground covering succulents of various colors and rare succulents have increased value. This is one of the main reasons why they’re perfect as ornamental plants. However, aside from their aesthetics, succulents are well-loved, no matter their variety, simply because they offer a plethora of benefits. For one, they can bring happiness to the person growing them. Repotting these tiny plants and watching them grow slowly are both relaxing to its owner. And not only that, but these plants can also breathe in all the toxic air within the room before it reverts the same into the clean, fresh air. 

Apart from all that has already been mentioned, no matter how unique the wide variety of colorful succulents are, they are pretty laid-back. You can enjoy all its benefits without sweating it all out in caring and maintaining them. Even a beginner who doesn’t know whether or not he has a green thumb can grow and make these plants thrive. For as long as you water them sparingly, aerate them, and give them enough sunlight, they would never disappoint you. 

If you want to grow succulents, you have to remember to repot or transplant them as soon as you take them home from the store or plant nursery. You see, the grow bag that they usually come with is not enough to keep its roots and hold its soil. On top of that, the said growing bag does not also have an adequate drainage capacity; hence, any extra moisture won’t be flushed out. If this happens, there is an excellent chance that the plant’s roots would end up rotten. The plant can also get moldy from all the excessive moisture. 

What Is Succulents Transplanting

Transplanting succulents is just like repotting them and moving them around from one part of the house or garden to another. If your succulents grow in pots, transplanting them means taking them out of their old pot and replanting them into a new, bigger one with better water draining capacity. However, when they grow in your landscaped garden, transplanting them means taking them out from the soil and bringing them into their new home — a new pot or new garden spot. 

Transplanting your plants is akin to allowing them to start over with a clean slate. This is very helpful when you see that your old plants are suffering from pests and diseases. Transplanting them after taking out the affected parts and removing molds and pests will solve the problem. 

Benefits of Transplanting Succulents

Offers Your Plants More Room to Thrive

You see, if you keep your succulents in its old pot, they might suffer from stunted growth. The container they’re in might not be big enough to hold and allow its roots to grow and expand. If this happens, the plant won’t grow as much. If it’s meant to flower, keeping them in the old pot will hinder such flowering process. By merely going for a slightly bigger pot, like one that’s about two inches wider, its roots will have more space to get larger. 

Prevents Diseases 

One of the most common problems with succulents is that they can get easily overwatered. Since it’s hard to determine whether they’re getting enough water, they can also quickly get soaked. When this happens, it’s easy for the plant to acquire diseases and have its roots rotten. However, overwatering is not only the cause of root rotting. If you don’t use the right potting mix, your succulent plant roots can also get rotten and get sick. To remedy the problem, you need to move your plant from its original soil and transplant them to a pot with the right potting mix. 

More Nutrients to Feed On

The roots of the succulent are responsible for finding nutrients and water for the plant. If your plant is on the same soil for a long time, it won’t be long until its roots deplete all the soil’s nutrients. Aside from that, the plant’s root system can also get so big that it can displace the soil, leaving nothing but root knots. This also calls for transplanting to ensure that there’s enough soil for the plant and its nutrients to hold on to. You see, even if you fertilize the soil when there’s no surface to absorb these nutrients, it will all be in vain. 

How Does Transplanting Succulents Work

Transplanting is relatively easy to do. Take the plant from its old pot or soil, get a new pot with the right potting mix, then replant your succulent. If you’re unsure whether or not you’re doing it right, you can rest easy knowing that these types of plants are relatively easy to transplant since their root balls are more resilient and smaller.

Though you might struggle to transplant those varieties with spines, know that they don’t usually mind moving around. They can manage the action without their roots getting disrupted.

Pros and Cons of Transplanting Succulents

Pros

One of the positive effects of transplanting your succulents is giving them a new chance to grow better and thrive. As mentioned above, staying in the same soil for a long time may deplete soil nutrients. When this happens, your succulent will refuse to grow to its full potential. They might also suffer from stunted growth. This problem is easily remedied by transplanting your plants. With the new soil, they can start growing again. 

Aside from that, another advantage of transplanting is giving your garden or house an upgrade. Moving your plants from one room or one part of the garden to another can alter the way your property looks, easily giving it a facelift. Now that’s one easy hack to follow if you’re in search of a facade upgrade. You also free your plants from pests and diseases that might stunt their growth or kill them by transplanting. 

Cons

As for the disadvantages, one of the most severe concerns in moving plants is stressing it out. Succulents have sensitive roots. Meaning, if you take it out from its original soil, it might be adversely affected. As a result, it might also experience stunted growth. If you move them frequently, the stress they felt might also show in the form of etiolation. They’ll grow leggy and less translucent as if they lack in light. With this in mind, it’s indeed essential that you don’t transplant frequently. Do it only when necessary.

Things to Consider Before Transplanting Succulents

Methods

As mentioned above, the succulent roots are quite sensitive; that’s why you have to be cautious of the transplanting method you’ll use. Currently, there are two transplanting methods, and these are rooting through cuttings and rooting through mature pieces. You can also root and propagate them in water before transplanting them in a new pot. 

Unlike bulb-grown and seed plants, succulents can grow through transplanting their mature pieces to make new ones. This is the plant’s natural planting way, making it so easy to develop new succulents. When you want to grow new succulents through their cuttings, you need to know which part to cut first. By definition, cuttings are plant sections, either their stem or single leaf section, removed from their parent plant for propagation.

Your plant type will determine the kind of succulent transplanting method appropriate to use. When you opt for the cutting method, make sure that you use a sharp and clean knife to cut off fleshy leaves with a portion of its stem still intact. However, if your goal is to harvest the leaves, you need to stay off the knife and snap the leaves off with your fingers. 

Forming a Callus and Spreading Out

When you’re done using or cutting the offsets, look for a shaded area to let your cut pieces rest. You can lay these pieces on a tray of gravel or dry potting mix. They can also be left out in a tray next to your window. The goal is to make them dry and keep them from rotting. Wait until these cuttings form a callus before you water them. 

Potting the Pieces

As soon as the pieces you cut from roots, place each of them in small containers with drainage holes. Ensure that each pot has a fresh and appropriate potting mix. Leave them in an area where they can receive bright and indirect light for six hours per day. Keep them away from direct sunlight and water them lightly but consistently once a week. 

How to Transplant Succulents in Pots 

Step 1 – Choose your transplanting method

As mentioned above, there are two main ways to transplant your succulents. Before you start taking them out from their pot, determine which of these methods you want to push for. 

Step 2 – Let your cut pieces dry

It’s essential to remove excess moisture from your cuttings to keep your plant roots from rotting. To do this, you can aerate your succulents so that they dry up fast. Never water them until they form separate roots. 

Step 3 – Prepare your potting mix and container

When you can see the cuttings’ roots, then it’s time to take them to their new home — a new container with drainage holes and filled with the appropriate potting mix. The roots are sensitive to moisture, so it’s better to use a  terracotta pot with a cactus mix as soil. They have better water drainage capacities, efficiently ridding your soil of extra moisture. 

Step 4 – Place your plant in its new home

Your succulent needs air, sunlight, and water. However, it shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight, and you only water them sparingly. If they get enough of these things, they will surely grow and thrive. 

 

How to Transplant Succulents Indoors 

Step 1 – Choose the right transplanting method

Every transplanting process starts with a piece of the old plant cut for propagation purposes. So even if you intend to transplant your succulents indoors, you need to determine which of these methods you want to push for. 

Step 2 – Let your cut pieces dry

After cutting the pieces, the next step in transplanting succulents indoors is to eliminate your cuttings’ excess moisture. This will ensure that the roots will never rot. Take note never to water them until they form separate roots. 

Step 3 – Prepare your potting mix and container

When you can see the cuttings’ roots, then it’s time to take them to their new home — a new container with drainage holes and filled with the appropriate potting mix. The roots are sensitive to moisture, so it’s better to use a  terracotta pot with the cactus mix as soil. They have better water drainage capacities, efficiently ridding your soil of extra moisture. 

Step 4 – Choose a well-ventilated and well-lit area

Succulents can live in low-light conditions. However, you should understand your succulent species’ needs. To know in what indoor state your succulents will thrive, get to know its variety first. Will it thrive under the shade or with a hint of sunlight? Will it etiolate when it is deprived of sunlight? And how frequently should you water them? The answer to these questions will determine the ideal environment to make your succulents thrive. 

 

How to Transplant Overgrown Succulent

Step 1 – Take the old plants from their container

To do this, pull your plant gently from the base of its stem. Be careful not to hurt the plant and its roots as you complete this process. 

Step 2 – Prepare your potting mix and container

When you can see the cuttings’ roots, then it’s time to take them to their new home — a new container with drainage holes and filled with the appropriate potting mix. The roots are sensitive to moisture, so it’s better to use a  terracotta pot with a cactus mix as soil. They have better water drainage capacities, efficiently ridding your soil of extra moisture. 

Step 3 – Prune undesired leaves

You can complete this step using a sharp and clean pair of pruning shears or scissors. After that, arrange the pruned pieces into your new pot. Once done, cover your replanted succulent with more soil. 

Step 4 – Leave the succulents dry

Allow them to dry for at least three days. After that, water them deeply and wait for their soil to dry up before you re-water them fully.

 

Do’s and Don’ts When Transplanting Succulents

Do’s

• Do take proper steps for repotting succulents.
• Do invest in the world’s best purple succulents.
• Do try growing cacti indoors or planting a wide variety of colorful succulents.
• Do remember that less is more when it comes to watering succulents. 
• Do try low-maintenance flowering succulents. 
• Do understand the transplanting requirements of the succulent you’re growing. 
• Do master the perfect formula for DIY succulent soil.

Don’ts: 

• Don’t overwater your trimmed succulent parts. 
• Don’t water your succulent trimmings before they could even grow their roots. 
• Don’t keep your succulents in nursery bags without transplanting them.
• Don’t do transplanting more often than necessary.

FAQ About Transplanting Succulents

When should you transplant succulents?

First, when your succulents are fresh from the plant store and they’re in a nursery bag, repot them. After that, you can transplant them once every 12 to 18 months. 

Can you cut off a piece of succulents and replant?

As mentioned above, unlike bulb-grown and seed plants, succulents can grow through transplanting their mature pieces to make new ones. This is the plant’s natural planting way, making it so easy to develop new succulents. When you want to grow new succulents through their cuttings, you need to know which part to cut first. By definition, cuttings are plant sections, either their stem or single leaf section, removed from their parent plant for propagation.

Your plant type will determine the kind of succulent transplanting method appropriate to use. When you opt for the cutting method, make sure that you use a sharp and clean knife to cut off fleshy leaves with a portion of its stem still intact. However, if your goal is to harvest the leaves, you need to stay off the knife and snap the leaves off with your fingers. 

Should I water succulents after transplanting?

Allow them to dry for at least three days. After that, water them deeply and wait for their soil to dry up before you re-water them fully.

How do you relocate succulents?

As stated above, you need to choose a well-ventilated and well-lit area indoors. To know in what indoor condition your succulents will thrive, get to know its variety first. Will it thrive under the shade or with a hint of sunlight? Will it etiolate when it is deprived of sunlight? And how frequently should you water them? The answer to these questions will determine the ideal environment to make your succulents thrive.

Conclusion

Transplanting your succulents gets easier when you know how to go about it and if you fully understand the needs of the succulent variety you’re growing. Therefore, with this in mind, we suggest that you get to know the needs and growing requirements of your succulent of choice first. After that, you can choose from the transplanting methods we shared above in regrowing and propagating them. 

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