Repotting guide

When & how to repot Felty Germander (Teucrium polium)

Also called Felty Germander, Silver Germander, Greek Germander, Rock Germander.

More about felty germander

About Felty Germander

Teucrium polium · also called Felty Germander, Silver Germander · herb

Teucrium polium is a compact, silvery-grey subshrub native to dry, rocky, often calcareous habitats throughout the Mediterranean basin and into the Middle East, where it has a long history of medicinal use. Its intensely woolly, tomentose stems and leaves give it a distinctive silvery-white appearance; small white to lavender flowers appear in dense terminal clusters from mid-summer into autumn. Full sun and impeccably drained, alkaline soil are mandatory — it is among the most drought-tolerant germanders. The plant is mildly toxic; hepatotoxic diterpenes documented in the genus make ingestion by pets or people inadvisable.

Mature size: 15–25 cm tall and 20–30 cm wide.

Watch for — Root and crown rot: Winter wet is the primary cause of plant death; this species absolutely requires perfect drainage and often benefits from being grown in a raised scree bed or alpine house in wetter UK climates.

How to tell felty germander needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For felty germander, 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 felty germander

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Felty Germander's growth habit — low, mounded, evergreen to semi-evergreen subshrub with densely woolly silver stems. — sets the pace. Teucrium polium is a compact, silvery-grey subshrub native to dry, rocky, often calcareous habitats throughout the Mediterranean basin and into the Middle East, where it has a long history of medicinal use. Its intensely woolly, tomentose stems and leaves give it a distinctive silvery-white appearance; small white to lavender flowers appear in dense terminal clusters from mid-summer into autumn. Full sun and impeccably drained, alkaline soil are mandatory — it is among the most drought-tolerant germanders. The plant is mildly toxic; hepatotoxic diterpenes documented in the genus make ingestion by pets or people inadvisable.

What size pot to step felty germander up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Felty Germander 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 felty germander

Spring or summer, while felty germander 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 felty germander

Repot dry. Do not water felty germander 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 sharply drained, sandy or gritty, alkaline to neutral; poor fertility is beneficial 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 felty germander 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 felty germander 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 felty germander

Felty Germander wants sharply drained, sandy or gritty, alkaline to neutral; poor fertility is beneficial. Rich or moist soils cause rank, weak growth and shorten plant life; mix in at least 50% sharp grit or coarse sand when planting in heavier borders. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting felty germander — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot felty germander?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for felty germander. Repot felty germander every 2–3 years into a snug pot of sharply drained, sandy or gritty, alkaline to neutral; poor fertility is beneficial, 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 felty germander need?

When is the best time of year to repot felty germander?

Should you water felty germander after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot felty germander 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 felty germander after repotting?

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