Repotting guide

When & how to repot Crassula Rupestris (Crassula rupestris)

Also called baby's necklace, kebab bush, rosary vine crassula.

More about crassula rupestris

About Crassula Rupestris

Crassula rupestris · also called baby's necklace, kebab bush · houseplant

Crassula rupestris is a charming South African succulent whose plump, triangular leaves are threaded along the stems like beads on a string, earning it the name baby's necklace. The leaves often blush red at the margins in bright light. Compact and trailing-to-upright, it needs strong light, gritty soil and minimal water, rewarding growers with starry winter blooms.

Mature size: Roughly 15-30 cm tall, spreading and trailing to 30 cm or more.

Watch for — Stretched, fading stems: Loss of the tight beaded look and red colour indicates too little light. Move to a sunnier spot to restore compactness and tint.

How to tell crassula rupestris needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Crassula Rupestris's growth habit — slow-to-moderate, clumping succulent with sprawling-to-semi-upright stems strung with stacked triangular leaves; branches and trails over a pot edge with age. — sets the pace. Crassula rupestris is a charming South African succulent whose plump, triangular leaves are threaded along the stems like beads on a string, earning it the name baby's necklace. The leaves often blush red at the margins in bright light. Compact and trailing-to-upright, it needs strong light, gritty soil and minimal water, rewarding growers with starry winter blooms.

What size pot to step crassula rupestris up to

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

Spring or summer, while crassula rupestris 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 rupestris

Repot dry. Do not water crassula rupestris 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 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 rupestris 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 rupestris 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 rupestris

Crassula Rupestris wants gritty, fast-draining succulent mix. Use a cactus/succulent blend with added pumice, perlite or coarse sand. Sharp drainage and a pot with a hole keep the shallow roots from sitting wet. 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 rupestris — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot crassula rupestris?

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

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

Should you water crassula rupestris after repotting?

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

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