Repotting guide

When & how to repot Alpine Rock Jasmine (Androsace alpina)

Also called Alpine Rock Jasmine, Alpine Androsace, Alpine Rock-Jasmine.

More about alpine rock jasmine

About Alpine Rock Jasmine

Androsace alpina · also called Alpine Rock Jasmine, Alpine Androsace · flowering

Androsace alpina is a cushion-forming evergreen perennial endemic to high-alpine scree, crevices, and moraines in the Alps, growing at 2,500–3,200 m on well-drained acidic substrates. It forms low mats of tiny, glandular-hairy rosettes and bears small white to rose-pink flowers directly above the foliage in late spring to early summer. In cultivation it requires a very gritty, acidic, sharply drained medium, full sun, and careful watering — best managed in an alpine house or a dedicated scree trough. Sources indicate the species is considered non-toxic to pets, though it does not appear by name on the ASPCA database; classified as mildly-toxic pending direct ASPCA confirmation.

Mature size: 3–8 cm tall and 10–20 cm across.

Watch for — Root rot from overwatering: The most frequent cultivation failure; wet soil, especially in cool weather, rapidly causes Pythium root rot — always use a sharply drained medium and water sparingly.

How to tell alpine rock jasmine needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For alpine rock jasmine, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot alpine rock jasmine

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Alpine Rock Jasmine's growth habit — low-spreading cushion mat of glandular-hairy evergreen rosettes; very slow-growing. — sets the pace. Androsace alpina is a cushion-forming evergreen perennial endemic to high-alpine scree, crevices, and moraines in the Alps, growing at 2,500–3,200 m on well-drained acidic substrates. It forms low mats of tiny, glandular-hairy rosettes and bears small white to rose-pink flowers directly above the foliage in late spring to early summer. In cultivation it requires a very gritty, acidic, sharply drained medium, full sun, and careful watering — best managed in an alpine house or a dedicated scree trough. Sources indicate the species is considered non-toxic to pets, though it does not appear by name on the ASPCA database; classified as mildly-toxic pending direct ASPCA confirmation.

What size pot to step alpine rock jasmine up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Alpine Rock Jasmine stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot alpine rock jasmine

Spring or summer, while alpine rock jasmine is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting alpine rock jasmine

Repot dry. Do not water alpine rock jasmine for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty very gritty, acidic, well-drained scree mix ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set alpine rock jasmine at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep alpine rock jasmine completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for alpine rock jasmine

Alpine Rock Jasmine wants very gritty, acidic, well-drained scree mix. Use a lean mix with a pH of 6.0–7.0; incorporate coarse grit or granite chips at 60–70% by volume to ensure rapid drainage and prevent water retention around the collar. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting alpine rock jasmine — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot alpine rock jasmine?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for alpine rock jasmine. Repot alpine rock jasmine every 2–3 years into a snug pot of very gritty, acidic, well-drained scree mix, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does alpine rock jasmine need?

When is the best time of year to repot alpine rock jasmine?

Should you water alpine rock jasmine after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot alpine rock jasmine into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise alpine rock jasmine after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting alpine rock jasmine. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.