Hello, beloved caretaker. I am your mature Jade Plant, a resilient and long-lived companion. While I am known for my toughness, the process of repotting is a significant event in my life. When my roots feel cramped in my current home, or the soil can no longer sustain me, I rely on you to help me transition. Done correctly, it will invigorate me for years to come. Here is my perspective on how we can accomplish this together, step by step.
I will tell you when I need a new home. Look for my roots peeking out of the drainage holes at the bottom of my pot, or notice if I am drinking up water much faster than before, leaving the soil dry and pulling away from the pot's edges. My growth may have slowed to a crawl. The best time for this big move is during my active growing season, in the warm spring or early summer. This gives my roots the most energy to quickly settle into their new environment. Please do not do this in the depths of winter when I am resting; the shock could be too much for me.
My new pot is my castle, so choose it wisely. It should be only one size larger than my current home—a pot that is too large will hold excess moisture around my roots, which I despise. Most importantly, it must have excellent drainage holes. As for my soil, I crave a loose, sharply draining mix. A specialized succulent or cactus potting mix is perfect for me. You can make your own by blending two parts of such a mix with one part of perlite or coarse sand. This ensures my roots get the air and drainage they need to avoid rot.
Please be patient and gentle with me. A few days before the repotting, give me a light drink to make the soil easier to work with, but do not water me fully. To get me out, tilt my current pot on its side and gently squeeze or tap the sides. You may need to carefully run a dull knife around the inside edge to loosen the soil's grip. Never pull me out by my trunk or stems, as I am heavy and my branches can snap. Support my base and coax me out slowly.
Once I am free, you will see my root ball. Gently loosen the old soil with your fingers, being careful not to tear my healthy, white roots. This is a chance for you to check my health. If you see any roots that are black, mushy, or smell bad, these are rotten and must be trimmed away with clean, sharp scissors. You can also lightly trim any excessively long, circling roots to encourage a fresh, outward growth pattern in my new pot. It might seem scary, but this minor root pruning is like a haircut; it stimulates healthy new growth.
Now, let's get me situated. Place a piece of broken pottery or a small mesh screen over the drainage hole in my new pot to prevent soil from washing out. Add a layer of my fresh, prepared soil to the bottom. Position me in the center, spreading my roots out naturally. I should sit at the same soil level as I did in my previous pot. Begin filling in around the roots with the new soil, gently tamping it down to remove large air pockets. Ensure I am stable and standing upright.
This is the most critical phase for my recovery. Do not water me immediately! My roots have tiny, invisible abrasions from the move, and watering right away could lead to rot. Please place me in a spot with bright, indirect light and leave me completely alone for about a week. After this period, you can give me a thorough, deep watering, allowing the excess to flow freely out of the drainage holes. Then, return to your normal watering routine, only watering when my soil is completely dry. With this careful aftercare, I will soon reward you with vigorous new growth, thankful for my spacious new home.
