Repotting guide

When & how to repot Canary Island Sea Lavender (Limonium pectinatum)

Also called Canary Island sea lavender.

More about canary island sea lavender

About Canary Island Sea Lavender

Limonium pectinatum · also called Canary Island sea lavender · flowering

Limonium pectinatum is a tender, shrubby perennial endemic to the coastal cliffs and rocky shores of the Canary Islands, where it is adapted to near-year-round warmth, salt winds, and fast-draining volcanic soils. It forms a spreading, low woody mound with stiff, comb-like leaves (the species name refers to the pectinate, comb-toothed leaf margins) and bears clusters of small flowers in summer. In the UK and most of the US it must be grown in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory and treated as a tender perennial or container specimen. Limonium is non-toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA.

Mature size: 30–50 cm tall and 40–60 cm wide.

Watch for — Root rot in winter: The most common cause of loss when grown under glass; wet compost combined with low winter temperatures is rapidly fatal. Keep the pot on the dry side from October through February.

How to tell canary island sea lavender needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For canary island sea lavender, 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 canary island sea lavender

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Canary Island Sea Lavender's growth habit — low, spreading, woody-based sub-shrub with stiff, pectinate leaves and branching, wispy flowering stems. — sets the pace. Limonium pectinatum is a tender, shrubby perennial endemic to the coastal cliffs and rocky shores of the Canary Islands, where it is adapted to near-year-round warmth, salt winds, and fast-draining volcanic soils. It forms a spreading, low woody mound with stiff, comb-like leaves (the species name refers to the pectinate, comb-toothed leaf margins) and bears clusters of small flowers in summer. In the UK and most of the US it must be grown in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory and treated as a tender perennial or container specimen. Limonium is non-toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA.

What size pot to step canary island sea lavender up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Canary Island Sea Lavender 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 canary island sea lavender

Spring or summer, while canary island sea lavender 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 canary island sea lavender

Repot dry. Do not water canary island sea lavender 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 or volcanic 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 canary island sea lavender 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 canary island sea lavender 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 canary island sea lavender

Canary Island Sea Lavender wants very free-draining, gritty or volcanic. Use a loam-based compost mixed 50/50 with coarse horticultural grit or perlite; excellent drainage is critical and mirrors the species' volcanic rocky native habitat. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting canary island sea lavender — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot canary island sea lavender?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for canary island sea lavender. Repot canary island sea lavender every 2–3 years into a snug pot of very free-draining, gritty or volcanic, 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 canary island sea lavender need?

When is the best time of year to repot canary island sea lavender?

Should you water canary island sea lavender after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot canary island sea lavender 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 canary island sea lavender after repotting?

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