Repotting guide

When & how to repot Cilantro / coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

Also called cilantro, coriander, Chinese parsley.

About Cilantro / coriander

Coriandrum sativum · also called cilantro, coriander · herb

Cilantro (the leaves) and coriander (the seeds) are the two crops from the same fast-growing annual. It bolts quickly in heat, so successional sowing every 2-3 weeks is the secret to a steady leaf supply. Pet-safe by ASPCA standards.

Coriandrum sativum, a cool-season annual native to southern Europe and Asia, is the same plant for both leaf (cilantro) and seed (coriander).

Needs well-drained soil; the long taproot means it transplants poorly, so direct-sow rather than move seedlings.

Mature size: 30-60 cm tall

Sources: hort.extension.wisc.edu, extension.oregonstate.edu

How to tell cilantro / coriander needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For cilantro / coriander, watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot cilantro / coriander on before it becomes hard root-bound.

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 cilantro / coriander

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Cilantro / corianderis grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Upright annual.

What size pot to step cilantro / coriander up to

Pot cilantro / coriander on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

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 cilantro / coriander

Pot cilantro / coriander on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting cilantro / coriander

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check cilantro / coriander regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh rich, well-drained loam at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water cilantro / coriander in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for cilantro / coriander

Cilantro / coriander wants rich, well-drained loam. Compost-rich soil; pH 6.2-6.8. Deep pots accommodate the tap root. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting cilantro / coriander — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot cilantro / coriander?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for cilantro / coriander. Cilantro / coriander is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into rich, well-drained loam so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does cilantro / coriander need?

When is the best time of year to repot cilantro / coriander?

Can you put cilantro / coriander straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing cilantro / coriander should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise cilantro / coriander after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting cilantro / coriander. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.