How to Transplant Succulents (An Easy Step-by-Step Guide)

To transplant succulents, first, determine when they need it, usually every 2 years. Choose the right time (spring/summer). Prepare new pots or garden beds with well-draining soil. Carefully remove succulents from old containers and trim roots if needed. Plant them at the same depth as before. Wait a few days before watering, and ensure they receive adequate sunlight and don’t overwater. Proper care ensures healthy growth.

Succulents are a popular plant to have in your home. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors.

One of the reasons why succulents are so popular is how easy they are to care for.

You may have never had any problems with your succulent plants because you weren’t aware that anything could go wrong!

However, if you’ve had your succulent plant for a while and it’s not looking as healthy or vibrant as it used to, it may be time for a transplant.

This article will guide you through how to transplant a succulent – one of the most common tasks faced by new owners of these plants.

How Do You Know When to Transplant Succulents

When you first start with succulents, it’s not necessary to transplant them.

Succulents are very hardy, and they can survive in the same container for years upon end without any problems arising; however, eventually, some issues will come up that require you to take action.

There are several reasons why you should transplant succulents from one container to another or outside into the ground.

Some of the most common reasons include:

New Succulents Are Added to Your Collection

If you buy new succulents for your collection, you will need to transplant them into new containers or to the ground if they are outside.

The reason for this is because your old pots or dirt will not be appropriate to support the new plant that you just purchased.

It’s good practice to transplant any newly-added succulents into new containers or to the ground.

A new pot will give them a much better chance at thriving in their new home.

Succulents Outgrow Their Container

Succulents need room to grow, and when they don’t have that space, it can lead to some problems down the line.

In this case, you should repot your overgrown succulents out of their current pots into larger containers.

Just be sure that the new pot you choose is a good fit for your succulents, as some plants can grow pretty large over time and will need an appropriately sized pot to live in.

Old Containers Are Broken, Cracked, or Leaking

Over time, succulents can wreak havoc on their containers.

Succulent roots are very strong, and they will cause the sides of a container to crack or even fall off entirely if you have too many plants in one pot together.

If your old pots are broken, cracked, or leaking, then it’s a good idea to transplant your succulents into new pots.

This will ensure that they have the best possible conditions to grow in.

Succulents Are Starting To Look Unhealthily

When succulents start to become unhealthy, it’s time for you to take action and transplant them.

You can tell how healthy your succulent plants are by how they look: if their leaves and stems seem droopy or shriveled up, then there might be a problem.

Several factors can cause this, but it’s best to transplant your succulents into new containers or onto the ground to give them their healthiest chance at thriving.

The Soil Succulents Are in Is Not Nutrient-Rich Enough

Succulents need nutrient-rich soil (or another growing medium) to thrive.

Over time, the soil mix can become depleted, and your plants will not be able to absorb enough nutrients from it.

When this happens, you should transplant succulents into a new fresh soil that has more nutrients for them to use.

This will ensure that they have the best possible growing conditions.

The Plants Need More Room To Grow or Spread Out

Succulents are very versatile plants, and they grow in a number of different ways.

Some succulents will send out shoots that can become new branches or stems; others might spread outward across the soil to create an attractive groundcover effect.

When a plant starts to spread out so that you don’t want it to, or if it simply wants more room to grow and expand, transplanting is the best option.

You Want To Move Your Succulents to a New Location

You might want to transplant your succulents for a variety of reasons:

If you move, or if the area around your home changes and it becomes less suitable for growing succulents, then this is when you should take action.

Transplanting will give them their best chance at thriving in their new location.

It’s always good practice to offer any type of plant that you own (including succulents) its optimal conditions by replanting into a larger pot or ground cover so they can thrive as much as possible.

The more care and attention you provide these types of plants, the better off they will be!

You Have Newly Propagated Succulents That Need To Be Transplanted

After propagating succulents, you have to transplant them into new containers or onto the ground.

When the succulents are big enough, you can transplant them into new containers or onto the ground. This will ensure that they have the best possible growing conditions.

If you don’t provide your succulents with their optimal conditions, then they won’t be as healthy and will grow slower than necessary.

How Often Do Succulents Need To Be Transplanted

Most succulents need to be transplanted at least once every two years.

After this amount of time, the old soil in their container becomes depleted and can no longer support healthy growth.

Also, when a plant is root-bound, it often produces smaller leaves and fewer blooms.

Before you transplant your succulents, check to see how large their container is.

If the roots are already spilling out of the drainage holes or if they look crowded in their current pot, then this means that they have probably reached maturity and should be transplanted into a larger planter as soon as possible.

If you wait too long to repot your succulents after they reach adulthood, eventually, their growth will slow down dramatically because there isn’t enough space for them to continue growing new leaves at the rate needed for healthy development.

Succulent plants can last many years without being reorganized but may not grow very much during this period.

When Is the Best Time to Transplant Succulents

The best time to transplant succulents is in the spring or summer months.

This is when they are the most active and growing, so it’s easier to move them without damaging their roots or leaving a space in your garden for too long.

If you need to transplant succulents into a larger pot because they have outgrown their current container, then early autumn should be fine as well if spring has already passed by this point.

However, it’s important to note that succulent plants should not be transplanted in the winter because their growth will slow down, and they may go into hibernation too early.

When transplanting your succulents it is best to do it when they are actively growing and producing new leaves.

What Should You Do Before Transplanting Succulents

Before you begin, there are a few things that you need to do.

First of all, prepare your new pots or garden beds for planting succulents.

If you are using pots, plant size is essential to consider. Succulents should be planted in containers with enough room for the roots but not so big that they will fall over or become rootbound.

Make sure your container has drainage holes before planting succulents because succulents do not like wet feet and can rot if left too long without adequate water.

If you are planting succulents in the ground, ensure that your garden bed is sunny and well-drained. If water sits for too long on top of the soil, it can drown the roots or cause root rot, so be sure to provide adequate drainage.

Next, make sure not to water your succulents for a couple of days before transplanting. This allows the roots to dry out and become less fragile before transplanting.

If the roots are wet, they can quickly become damaged or dislodged when you move them to their new home!

What Soil is Best for Succulents?

Succulent plants like well-draining soil, so this is the most important step in making sure your plants will be happy!

A succulent and cactus soil are ideal because it is coarse enough to allow for good drainage and not too fine that the roots will have a hard time growing through.

You can use various soils for succulents, but add perlite if you do not have a cactus mix or succulent soil.

Mixing pumice and sand into clay-based soils to help with drainage is also helpful.

Make sure not to use regular garden soil because it does not drain well, which could kill your new plants.

How to Transplant Succulents

When transplanting succulents to a new pot or the ground, you want to do it in the morning or late afternoon so that the temperature is not too high.

The process is similar for all succulents, so this guide will show how to do it whether you are transplanting a Crassula or Echeveria.

How to Repot Succulents Into Pots: Step-by-Step Guide

Succulents can be transplanted or repotted into pots with ease.

The following six steps provide a how-to guide for transplanting succulents into pots.

Step 1: Prepare Your New Pot

Clean your new pot with a brush and soapy water to remove any dirt or residue.

If you are reusing pots, clean them well before your transplant.

This will help prevent the spread of any diseases or pests.

Step Two: Remove Succulents From Their Current Pot

Once your pots are clean, remove your succulents from their current pot with care.

Start by loosening the soil around the edges until you can pull it out in clumps without breaking them apart.

Once you have a good amount of potting soil out, start to loosen the roots to avoid damage when you move them.

Step Three: Trim the Roots

Succulents do not need a lot of root space because they store water in their leaves.

However, if your plants have long roots or are rootbound from being cramped into too small of a pot, you may want to trim them down before planting.

You can use scissors for this step, as well as make sure not to cut the leaves.

Step Four: Fill the New Container with Soil or Potting Mix

You can use a cactus mix or succulent potting soil.

Fill the pot with potting soil until it reaches about an inch below where your plants are going to sit.

As you fill your pot with soil, pat it down gently to remove any air pockets.

Step Five: Place the New Succulents in Their Pot and Fill With Soil

Gently place each succulent plant into its new home.

If you are repotting multiple plants into one container, make sure they all have enough space to grow.

Once your succulents are in the new pot, fill any remaining gaps with soil and pat it down gently once more.

Make sure not to pack too tightly because this could restrict drainage!

Step Six: Wait and Water

After repotting your succulents, wait a couple of days before watering them.

It should only be watered once the soil has dried out.

After you have watered your succulents, make sure that they are not sitting in water or allowing it to pool around them, as this can cause root rot!

The how-to guide for transplanting succulent plants into pots is complete!

If you follow these six steps to plant succulents into pots, you can expect great results.

How to Replant Succulents to the Ground Outside: Step-by-Step Guide

Transplanting succulents into the ground is a little more difficult than how you would do it in a pot, but this process still doesn’t have to be complicated.

The following is how to transplant succulents into the ground step-by-step:

Step One: Prepare Your New Garden Bed

If you plan to plant your succulent in a garden bed, prepare it by removing debris and weeds that might inhibit its growth or cause problems with drainage.

You can use a pitchfork or hoe to break up the soil and clear out any debris before you begin planting.

Step Two: Dig the Hole

Once your new garden bed is cleared of debris, start digging a hole deep enough to accommodate your succulent.

Remember how much root space you need for its growth and how tall it can get to choose an appropriate depth.

If you are digging up an entire bed of succulents, ensure that they all receive enough root space and how deep your holes need to be for them to all fit!

Step Three: Prepare Your Succulent

Gently remove your succulent plant from its pot or container.

Make sure to loosen the soil around its roots before attempting to remove it from the container.

You can use your hands to do this or a gentle tug if you remove it from its plastic pot.

If the roots are too tightly compacted, try using scissors or pruning shears to trim them down before planting.

Step Four: Place the New Succulent in Its Hole

Once your succulent is out of its pot, place it into its new home so that the crown sits just above soil level.

Make sure that the succulent is planted so it was initially growing in its pot.

If you need to adjust how deep your hole is, do that now and then pat down the soil around it gently.

If you are transplanting multiple plants at once, make sure there is enough space between them to grow without crowding each other.

Step Five: Fill in the Holes

Fill in the holes with dirt and pat it down gently.

Make sure that there are no air pockets in the ground to prevent your succulents from growing properly.

You can use a stick or your foot to pat down the dirt.

Step Six: Wait and Water

Wait a couple of days before you water your succulents.

After a few days have passed, slowly begin watering your plants again until they are evenly moistened around their entire root system.

Succulents should only be watered once the soil has dried out.

Once you have finished watering your new plants, make sure that they are not sitting in water or allowing it to pool around them, as this can cause root rot!

The how-to guide for transplanting succulents into the ground is complete!

If you follow these six steps on how to transplant succulents outside, you can expect great results.

How to Care For Newly Transplanted Succulents?

After you have transplanted your succulents, you will need to care for them properly.

Succulents tend to prefer hot and dry climates, so they do not like waterlogged soil. If the garden soil is too wet or moist after transplanting, this can cause root rot.

Your newly planted succulent may require some additional light as well because it has been moved from its original growing spot.

New growth on a plant that undergoes any type of shock (from moving or repotting) means new leaves and stems as the plant works to recover from the trauma it experienced in being relocated.

The most important thing is not overwatering!

Be sure to allow your succulents to dry out between waterings. If the soil stays moist for too long, this can cause root rot or other diseases that could kill your plants!

If you take proper care of them after transplanting and give them a few days to adjust, they should be just fine!

Just don’t forget about them while they settle into their new home.

Final Thoughts

Succulents are great plants to have in your garden, but they need proper conditions and care.

Luckily, succulents are very easy to take care of, but they need to be transplanted in certain circumstances.

Repotting or transplanting succulents is an easy process, but it needs to be done at the right time and in the right way.

When done correctly, repotting succulents will give your plants the proper conditions to thrive and grow.