Repotting guide

When & how to repot Fairies' Thimbles (Campanula cochleariifolia)

Also called Fairies' Thimbles, Fairy Thimble Bellflower, Cochlearia-leaved Bellflower.

More about fairies' thimbles

About Fairies' Thimbles

Campanula cochleariifolia · also called Fairies' Thimbles, Fairy Thimble Bellflower · flowering

Fairies' Thimbles is a low-growing alpine bellflower producing masses of nodding, thimble-shaped pale blue or white flowers in summer. It spreads by stolons to form mats in rock gardens, wall crevices, and containers. Hardy and easy to grow, it thrives in gritty, free-draining soil with full sun to partial shade.

Mature size: 5–10 cm tall, spreading 20–40 cm wide

How to tell fairies' thimbles needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For fairies' thimbles, 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 fairies' thimbles

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Fairies' Thimbles's growth habit — mat-forming, stoloniferous perennial; low creeping stems 5–10 cm tall with upright flower stalks — sets the pace. Fairies' Thimbles is a low-growing alpine bellflower producing masses of nodding, thimble-shaped pale blue or white flowers in summer. It spreads by stolons to form mats in rock gardens, wall crevices, and containers. Hardy and easy to grow, it thrives in gritty, free-draining soil with full sun to partial shade.

What size pot to step fairies' thimbles up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Fairies' Thimbles 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 fairies' thimbles

Spring or summer, while fairies' thimbles 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 fairies' thimbles

Repot dry. Do not water fairies' thimbles 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, sharply draining alpine or rock garden 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 fairies' thimbles 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 fairies' thimbles 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 fairies' thimbles

Fairies' Thimbles wants gritty, sharply draining alpine or rock garden mix. Use a mix of two parts loam or garden soil to one part coarse grit or perlite. Slightly alkaline to neutral pH (6.5–7.5) suits it well. Rich soils produce lush foliage at the expense of flowers. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting fairies' thimbles — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot fairies' thimbles?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for fairies' thimbles. Repot fairies' thimbles every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, sharply draining alpine or rock garden 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 fairies' thimbles need?

When is the best time of year to repot fairies' thimbles?

Should you water fairies' thimbles after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot fairies' thimbles 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 fairies' thimbles after repotting?

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