Container guide
Growing old man of the andes in a pot
Compost and drainage
Old Man of the Andes needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.
Watering old man of the andes in a pot
Containers dry far faster than open ground, so old man of the andes in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "When the soil has dried out, about every 2 weeks in summer; very sparingly in winter" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.
Potting on
Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.
More old man of the andes care
Growing old man of the andes in containers — FAQ
Can you grow old man of the andes in a pot?
Yes — old man of the andes does well in a pot. Aim for a container around 20-30 cm (8-12 in) across: enough root room for it to reach about 1 m, without so much spare compost that it stays soggy between waterings.
What size pot does old man of the andes need?
Aim for a container 20-30 cm (8-12 in) across. Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.
What compost and drainage does old man of the andes need in a container?
Old Man of the Andes needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.
How often should I water old man of the andes in a pot?
Containers dry far faster than open ground, so old man of the andes in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "When the soil has dried out, about every 2 weeks in summer; very sparingly in winter" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.