Re-potting a succulent is so easy. There is no need to throw them away and start from scratch.

My method will give you refreshed succulents in no time at all, even if your plants become leggy and tall.

It breaks my heart when I see people throw away succulents that can easily be given a new lease on life.

As succulents grow, they naturally get taller and end up exposing the long stem they have developed.

This long thick stem is called meristem tissue.

This tissue will become anything the plants needs – roots, another stem, new succulent off-shoots.

Although this long stem is not attractive, it is completely normal and has so much potential.

Not to mention, anybody, even a novice gardener, can refresh their succulent containers.

Supplies Needed

Clean hand held pruners

Clean snips

Fresh potting soil for succulents

Water

container (either the one it was already in or a new one)

Steps to Re-pot the Succulent

  1. First, and most importantly, the tools you use need to be clean. I always wipe down my pruners and snips with alcohol before using them on any plant material so that I don’t inadvertently spread disease.
  2. Using the hand held pruners, cut the succulent stalk off at the top of the dirt.
  3. Set the succulent to the side.
  4. Next, if you are planning to re-use the same dirt, remove the stalk piece that is still in the dirt.
  5. Discard this piece in the trash or compost bin as this will not grow a new succulent.
  6. If you are using fresh dirt, just dump the whole stalk and dirt into the trash or compost pile.
  7. Add fresh dirt to your pot.
  8. If your main succulent has developed new baby succulents around the stalk, you will need to trim these off.
  9. Using a pair of snips, trim the babies from the main “mama” plant. You have now propagated your very own new succulents without spending a dime.
  10. Set the baby succulents to the side for the moment.
  11. Create a small hole in the container you are using, and place the mama plant’s stalk into the hole. You may need to trim the stalk by another inch or so before placing it in the hole.
  12. Next, make sure that the succulent is now flush with the top of the soil.
  13. Repeat this process with the baby succulents. You can add these to the same container as the mama succulent or place them in a new container.
  14. Your succulents should establish roots within 10- 14 days.

Photos of the Re-Potting Process

leggy succulent with damaged leaves sitting in pot at kitchen sink - J Dub By Design™
Here is my leggy succulent with a damaged leaf.
trimming the stalk of a leggy succulent while standing at the kitchen sink - J Dub By Design™
First, usuing a pair of pruners or clean snips, cut the stalk away from the base of the plant.
Jennifer Williams pointing to small succulent babies growing off the main plant = J Dub By Design™
The main plant may have also produced baby succulent plants that will also grow into new plants.
trimming baby succulents from the main plant using garden pruners - J Dub By Design™
Using clean snips, trim the baby succulents away from the mom.
Jennifer Williams holding three small succulent plants trimmed from the main plant - J Dub By Design™
I was able to harvest three additional succulents from the main plant.
Jennifer Williams pointing to healthy meristem tissue of a succulent - J Dub By Design™
The long stalk of the main plant is called meristem tissue.
removing a succulent stalk from a pot - J Dub By Design™
Remove the stalk that is left in the dirt.
holding a succulent stalk in the palm of my hand - J Dub By Design™
You will discard this piece in the trash.
re-potting a freshly trimmed succulent - J Dub By Design™
Re-pot the succulent into the pot and add fresh dirt. Make sure to place the stem far into the dirt so that the succulent is almost parallel with the dirt.
watering a newly planted succulent at the kitchen sink - J Dub By Design™
Add a few drops of water and watch your newly re-potted succulent flourish.

Tips and Tricks

  1. If your container has a drainage hole, water the newly planted succulent and allow it to drain. Do not water again until the soil of the newly planted succulent is completely dried out. It is extremely important not to over water. Overwatering your succulent will cause root rot.
  2. If your container does not have a drainage hole, just give the succulent a few drops of water at the base. Do not drench the succulent as the water will have no place to go and this will cause root rot.

VOILÁ! You have just given your succulents a new lease on life.

You can do this process with ANY succulent container you own. Every year, I refresh the “W” when the plants get so happy they grow out of the container. I do not buy new succulents to replace them. I simply trim and re-pot them back into the “W”.

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a freshly re-potted succulent with three baby succulents - J Dub By Design™
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