Repotting guide

When & how to repot Chandelier Plant (Kalanchoe delagoensis)

Also called Mother of Millions.

More about chandelier plant

About Chandelier Plant

Kalanchoe delagoensis · also called Mother of Millions · houseplant

Chandelier Plant is an upright Kalanchoe with slender, tubular grey-green leaves that mass tiny plantlets along their tips, dropping countless babies that root anywhere. It bears clusters of orange-red bell flowers and grows fast in full sun and dry, gritty soil. Vigorous to the point of weediness, it is invasive in warm regions and toxic to pets.

Mature size: 0.3-1 m tall; can form dense colonies from dropped plantlets

Watch for — Spreads everywhere from plantlets: Dropped tip-plantlets root in nearby pots and soil. Catch a tray beneath it, remove stray babies promptly, and never plant it outdoors in frost-free regions where it is invasive.

How to tell chandelier plant needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Chandelier Plant's growth habit — erect, fast-growing, often single-stemmed succulent producing narrow cylindrical leaves tipped with rows of plantlets. the dropped plantlets root prolifically, making it spread aggressively. — sets the pace. Chandelier Plant is an upright Kalanchoe with slender, tubular grey-green leaves that mass tiny plantlets along their tips, dropping countless babies that root anywhere. It bears clusters of orange-red bell flowers and grows fast in full sun and dry, gritty soil. Vigorous to the point of weediness, it is invasive in warm regions and toxic to pets.

What size pot to step chandelier plant up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Chandelier Plant 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 chandelier plant

Spring or summer, while chandelier plant 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 chandelier plant

Repot dry. Do not water chandelier plant 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 free-draining cactus/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 chandelier plant 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 chandelier plant 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 chandelier plant

Chandelier Plant wants free-draining cactus/succulent mix. Gritty cactus mix with added pumice or perlite. It is unfussy and grows in poor soil, but sharp drainage prevents rot. A pot with drainage holes is essential. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting chandelier plant — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot chandelier plant?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for chandelier plant. Repot chandelier plant every 2–3 years into a snug pot of free-draining cactus/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 chandelier plant need?

When is the best time of year to repot chandelier plant?

Should you water chandelier plant after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot chandelier plant 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 chandelier plant after repotting?

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