Repotting guide

When & how to repot Buddha's Temple (Crassula 'Buddha's Temple')

Also called Buddha Temple Plant.

More about buddha's temple

About Buddha's Temple

Crassula 'Buddha's Temple' · also called Buddha Temple Plant · houseplant

Buddha's Temple is a striking Crassula hybrid whose grey-green leaves stack in tight, square, pagoda-like columns that grow upward and can topple under their own weight. Slow-growing and architectural, it produces dense flower clusters at the column tips. Treat it as a tender, rot-prone succulent and, as a Crassula, keep it away from pets per ASPCA.

Mature size: Columns to about 15 cm tall before toppling; clumps spread to 15-20 cm.

Watch for — Columns toppling over: Partly natural as towers grow tall, but worsened by low light. Brighter light keeps growth tighter; topped stems can be re-rooted.

How to tell buddha's temple needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For buddha's temple, 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 buddha's temple

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Buddha's Temple's growth habit — slow-growing, upright, columnar succulent forming square stacked towers that eventually lean or fall over and branch from the base. — sets the pace. Buddha's Temple is a striking Crassula hybrid whose grey-green leaves stack in tight, square, pagoda-like columns that grow upward and can topple under their own weight. Slow-growing and architectural, it produces dense flower clusters at the column tips. Treat it as a tender, rot-prone succulent and, as a Crassula, keep it away from pets per ASPCA.

What size pot to step buddha's temple up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Buddha's Temple 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 buddha's temple

Spring or summer, while buddha's temple 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 buddha's temple

Repot dry. Do not water buddha's temple 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 free-draining gritty succulent 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 buddha's temple 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 buddha's temple 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 buddha's temple

Buddha's Temple wants very free-draining gritty succulent mix. An open cactus mix heavy on pumice, perlite or grit in a pot with drainage. This rot-prone hybrid needs faster drainage than most jades; avoid any water-retentive medium. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting buddha's temple — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot buddha's temple?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for buddha's temple. Repot buddha's temple every 2–3 years into a snug pot of very free-draining gritty succulent 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 buddha's temple need?

When is the best time of year to repot buddha's temple?

Should you water buddha's temple after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot buddha's temple 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 buddha's temple after repotting?

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