Repotting guide

When & how to repot Daylily 'Ruby Spider' (Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider')

Also called Ruby Spider Daylily, Giant Spider Daylily.

More about daylily 'ruby spider'

About Daylily 'Ruby Spider'

Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider' · also called Ruby Spider Daylily, Giant Spider Daylily · flowering

Ruby Spider is a spectacular large-flowered spider daylily producing enormous ruby-red blooms up to 28 cm across on 90 cm scapes. The long, narrow, recurving petals give it an exotic, starfish-like appearance. A mid-season bloomer and show-garden favourite. TOXIC — all Hemerocallis are potentially deadly to cats.

Mature size: 85-100 cm tall in bloom; clumps 75-100 cm wide

How to tell daylily 'ruby spider' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For daylily 'ruby spider', watch for these signs:

Roots spiralling thickly out of the drainage holes or pushing the whole plant up out of the pot.
The pot is so packed that water runs straight through in seconds and barely wets the soil.
It has split a plastic pot, or the rootball is a solid mass with almost no soil left when you slide it out.
Growth and (for daylily 'ruby spider') flowering have clearly stalled despite good light and feeding — but remember this plant likes being snug, so a little crowding alone is not a reason to repot.

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 daylily 'ruby spider'

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. Daylily 'Ruby Spider' is one of the plants that genuinely prefers a snug pot — it grows and flowers better with its roots a little restricted, so resist the urge to repot it on schedule. Large clump-forming herbaceous perennial with arching strap-like leaves.

What size pot to step daylily 'ruby spider' up to

Go up only one pot size — roughly 2–3 cm (about an inch) wider in diameter, no more. Daylily 'Ruby Spider' positively prefers a snug pot: it flowers and grows better when the roots are a little restricted. The single biggest repotting mistake here is over-potting — dropping daylily 'ruby spider' into a pot two or three sizes up. All that surplus soil holds water the small root system cannot use, stays cold and wet, and rots the roots within weeks. When in doubt, choose the smaller pot.

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 daylily 'ruby spider'

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for daylily 'ruby spider'. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting daylily 'ruby spider'

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide daylily 'ruby spider' out and check the roots. Only continue if it is genuinely packed — this plant prefers a snug pot, so if there is still soil and room, put it straight back.
Pick a pot only one size up. Choose a pot just 2–3 cm wider with good drainage. Resist anything bigger; over-potting is the main killer here.
Ease it out gently. Water lightly the day before, then tip daylily 'ruby spider' out, supporting the base. Tease the outer roots free only enough to stop them circling.
Repot at the same depth. Add a layer of fresh deep, fertile, well-draining loam, set the plant so the soil line sits exactly where it did before, and backfill around the sides, firming lightly.
Settle it in. Water once to settle the soil, then let it sit. Hold off on more water until the top of the soil dries — fresh soil around a small root system stays wet for a while.

Aftercare

Because the new soil holds more water than the old crammed rootball did, ease right back on watering — let the top of the soil dry before you water daylily 'ruby spider' again, or you will rot the roots in the very pot you just moved it to. Keep it out of harsh direct sun for a fortnight. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for daylily 'ruby spider'

Daylily 'Ruby Spider' wants deep, fertile, well-draining loam. Deep, rich soil supports the large root system and heavy flower production. Incorporate 10-15 cm of compost at planting. pH 6.0-7.0. Avoid shallow or compacted soils which restrict the large fan root system. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting daylily 'ruby spider' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot daylily 'ruby spider'?

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded for daylily 'ruby spider'. Only repot daylily 'ruby spider' every 2–4 years, and only when it is genuinely root-bound — it flowers and grows best slightly crowded. Step up just one pot size in spring using deep, fertile, well-draining loam. The key mistake is over-potting: a too-big pot stays wet and rots the roots.

What size pot does daylily 'ruby spider' need?

When is the best time of year to repot daylily 'ruby spider'?

Does daylily 'ruby spider' like to be root-bound?

Yes — daylily 'ruby spider' genuinely flowers and grows best when slightly pot-bound, so do not rush to repot it. The mistake to avoid is over-potting into a much larger pot: the excess soil stays wet, the roots cannot use it, and the plant rots. Only repot every few years and only one snug size up.

Should you fertilise daylily 'ruby spider' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting daylily 'ruby spider'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.