Repotting guide

When & how to repot Crassula Hemisphaerica (Crassula hemisphaerica)

Also called half sphere crassula, rosette crassula.

More about crassula hemisphaerica

About Crassula Hemisphaerica

Crassula hemisphaerica · also called half sphere crassula, rosette crassula · houseplant

Crassula hemisphaerica is a small South African succulent forming tight, geometric rosettes of stacked, rounded grey-green leaves arranged in neat opposite rows. A compact winter grower, it sends up a slender flower spike of tiny white-pink blooms. It wants bright light, gritty fast-draining soil, and careful, infrequent watering. Like all Crassula, it is toxic to cats and dogs.

Mature size: Rosettes about 4-6 cm across; flower stalk to roughly 10-15 cm tall.

Watch for — Crown and root rot: Soft, blackening leaves at the centre or base follow overwatering or water sitting in the rosette. Water the soil only, improve drainage, and cut watering right back.

How to tell crassula hemisphaerica needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Crassula Hemisphaerica's growth habit — small clumping succulent forming dense, symmetrical rosettes of stacked opposite leaves, offsetting at the base; sends up a thin flowering stalk above the foliage. — sets the pace. Crassula hemisphaerica is a small South African succulent forming tight, geometric rosettes of stacked, rounded grey-green leaves arranged in neat opposite rows. A compact winter grower, it sends up a slender flower spike of tiny white-pink blooms. It wants bright light, gritty fast-draining soil, and careful, infrequent watering. Like all Crassula, it is toxic to cats and dogs.

What size pot to step crassula hemisphaerica up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Crassula Hemisphaerica 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 crassula hemisphaerica

Spring or summer, while crassula hemisphaerica 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 crassula hemisphaerica

Repot dry. Do not water crassula hemisphaerica 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 gritty, fast-draining succulent or cactus 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 crassula hemisphaerica 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 crassula hemisphaerica 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 crassula hemisphaerica

Crassula Hemisphaerica wants gritty, fast-draining succulent or cactus mix. Use cactus compost amended with 30-50% perlite, pumice, or grit. The shallow root system rots in dense or constantly damp media, so free drainage and a snug pot with drainage holes are 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 crassula hemisphaerica — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot crassula hemisphaerica?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for crassula hemisphaerica. Repot crassula hemisphaerica every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, fast-draining succulent or cactus 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 crassula hemisphaerica need?

When is the best time of year to repot crassula hemisphaerica?

Should you water crassula hemisphaerica after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot crassula hemisphaerica 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 crassula hemisphaerica after repotting?

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