Repotting guide

When & how to repot Crassula Undulata (Crassula ovata 'Undulata')

Also called ripple jade, curly jade.

More about crassula undulata

About Crassula Undulata

Crassula ovata 'Undulata' · also called ripple jade, curly jade · houseplant

Crassula 'Undulata', the ripple or curly jade, is a jade-plant cultivar with wavy, twisting blue-green leaves often edged in red. A slow-growing succulent shrub, it stores water in fleshy leaves, wants bright sun and gritty fast-draining soil, and needs only occasional deep watering. Striking and easy-care, but toxic to cats and dogs.

Mature size: Grows to roughly 60-90 cm tall indoors over several years, branching into a compact fleshy crown.

Watch for — Overwatering and rot: Soggy soil rots roots and stems. Let the mix dry fully between waterings, use gritty compost and cut back water in winter.

How to tell crassula undulata needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Crassula Undulata's growth habit — slow-growing, upright succulent shrub with woody branching stems and distinctive wavy leaves. develops a sturdy, bonsai-like trunk over time and may bear small white-pink star flowers when mature. — sets the pace. Crassula 'Undulata', the ripple or curly jade, is a jade-plant cultivar with wavy, twisting blue-green leaves often edged in red. A slow-growing succulent shrub, it stores water in fleshy leaves, wants bright sun and gritty fast-draining soil, and needs only occasional deep watering. Striking and easy-care, but toxic to cats and dogs.

What size pot to step crassula undulata up to

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

Spring or summer, while crassula undulata 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 undulata

Repot dry. Do not water crassula undulata 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 undulata 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 undulata 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 undulata

Crassula Undulata wants gritty, fast-draining succulent or cactus mix. A cactus/succulent compost boosted with perlite, pumice or grit gives the sharp drainage these roots demand. Always use a pot with drainage holes; heavy wet soil leads to rot. 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 undulata — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot crassula undulata?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for crassula undulata. Repot crassula undulata 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 undulata need?

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

Should you water crassula undulata after repotting?

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

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