Repotting guide

When & how to repot Faucaria lupina (Faucaria lupina)

Also called wolf jaws.

More about faucaria lupina

About Faucaria lupina

Faucaria lupina · also called wolf jaws · houseplant

Faucaria lupina, or wolf jaws, is a South African mesemb whose triangular leaf pairs edge themselves with soft, tooth-like marginal hairs that resemble open jaws. It produces large golden-yellow autumn flowers and grows actively in the cooler months. Tolerant and beginner-friendly, it asks for full sun, gritty soil and careful, sparing watering.

Mature size: Roughly 5-10 cm tall and spreading to 10-15 cm across as a clump.

Watch for — Root rot from overwatering: Most frequent issue, worsened by watering in summer dormancy or in heavy soil. Let the mix dry fully and use a gritty substrate.

How to tell faucaria lupina needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For faucaria lupina, 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 faucaria lupina

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Faucaria lupina's growth habit — low, clump-forming rosette succulent; opposing pairs of toothed triangular leaves stack and offset into small clusters over time. — sets the pace. Faucaria lupina, or wolf jaws, is a South African mesemb whose triangular leaf pairs edge themselves with soft, tooth-like marginal hairs that resemble open jaws. It produces large golden-yellow autumn flowers and grows actively in the cooler months. Tolerant and beginner-friendly, it asks for full sun, gritty soil and careful, sparing watering.

What size pot to step faucaria lupina up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Faucaria lupina 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 faucaria lupina

Spring or summer, while faucaria lupina 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 faucaria lupina

Repot dry. Do not water faucaria lupina 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 faucaria lupina 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 faucaria lupina 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 faucaria lupina

Faucaria lupina wants gritty, fast-draining succulent mix. Standard cactus mix amended with around 30-50% pumice, perlite or coarse sand. Free drainage and a pot with holes are essential to avoid 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 faucaria lupina — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot faucaria lupina?

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

When is the best time of year to repot faucaria lupina?

Should you water faucaria lupina after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot faucaria lupina 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 faucaria lupina after repotting?

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