Repotting guide

When & how to repot Botterboom (Tylecodon paniculatus)

Also called Botterboom, Butter Tree.

More about botterboom

About Botterboom

Tylecodon paniculatus · also called Botterboom, Butter Tree · houseplant

Botterboom is a dramatic South African winter-growing caudiciform succulent with a swollen, golden-yellow papery-barked stem that stores water through the summer drought. Its fleshy green leaves appear in autumn and drop in summer; tubular red-orange flowers follow in summer on bare stems. A striking collector's specimen that rewards patience and a near-dry summer dormancy.

Mature size: 1–2 m (3–6 ft) tall in habitat over many decades; typically 30–60 cm (12–24 in) as a container plant.

How to tell botterboom needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For botterboom, 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 botterboom

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Botterboom's growth habit — caudiciform small tree or shrub with a swollen water-storing trunk/caudex; deciduous in summer. — sets the pace. Botterboom is a dramatic South African winter-growing caudiciform succulent with a swollen, golden-yellow papery-barked stem that stores water through the summer drought. Its fleshy green leaves appear in autumn and drop in summer; tubular red-orange flowers follow in summer on bare stems. A striking collector's specimen that rewards patience and a near-dry summer dormancy.

What size pot to step botterboom up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Botterboom 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 botterboom

Spring or summer, while botterboom 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 botterboom

Repot dry. Do not water botterboom 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 mineral succulent grit 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 botterboom 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 botterboom 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 botterboom

Botterboom wants mineral succulent grit mix. Use 60–70% coarse inorganic material (pumice, perlite, or coarse grit) with 30–40% low-nutrient compost. The large caudex is particularly susceptible to crown and root rot in heavy soils. Terracotta pots are strongly preferred. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting botterboom — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot botterboom?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for botterboom. Repot botterboom every 2–3 years into a snug pot of mineral succulent grit 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 botterboom need?

When is the best time of year to repot botterboom?

Should you water botterboom after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot botterboom 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 botterboom after repotting?

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