Repotting guide

When & how to repot Hoodia gordonii (Hoodia gordonii)

Also called hoodia, Bushman's hat, queen of the Namib.

More about hoodia gordonii

About Hoodia gordonii

Hoodia gordonii · also called hoodia, Bushman's hat · houseplant

Hoodia gordonii, the Bushman's hat, is a spiny, columnar South African stapeliad succulent with ribbed, cucumber-like grey-green stems and large, flesh-coloured, foul-smelling saucer flowers. Famous as a folk appetite suppressant, it is a slow, sun-loving desert plant needing very gritty soil, sparse water, and a dry winter rest. It resents cold and damp.

Mature size: Stems reach 30-60 cm tall and several centimetres thick, forming clumps up to 60 cm or more across with age.

Watch for — Stem and root rot: The thick stems rot quickly from overwatering or cool, damp conditions, going soft and yellow-brown. Keep dry in winter and re-root only firm, healthy segments.

How to tell hoodia gordonii needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For hoodia gordonii, 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 hoodia gordonii

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Hoodia gordonii's growth habit — erect, clump-forming columnar succulent with multiple ribbed, spine-tipped grey-green stems branching from the base. — sets the pace. Hoodia gordonii, the Bushman's hat, is a spiny, columnar South African stapeliad succulent with ribbed, cucumber-like grey-green stems and large, flesh-coloured, foul-smelling saucer flowers. Famous as a folk appetite suppressant, it is a slow, sun-loving desert plant needing very gritty soil, sparse water, and a dry winter rest. It resents cold and damp.

What size pot to step hoodia gordonii up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Hoodia gordonii 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 hoodia gordonii

Spring or summer, while hoodia gordonii 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 hoodia gordonii

Repot dry. Do not water hoodia gordonii 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 very free-draining mineral 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 hoodia gordonii 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 hoodia gordonii 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 hoodia gordonii

Hoodia gordonii wants very free-draining mineral cactus mix. Use an open gritty mix high in pumice and coarse sand with minimal organics. Deep clay pots suit the taproot and help the soil dry quickly between waterings. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting hoodia gordonii — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot hoodia gordonii?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for hoodia gordonii. Repot hoodia gordonii every 2–3 years into a snug pot of very free-draining mineral 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 hoodia gordonii need?

When is the best time of year to repot hoodia gordonii?

Should you water hoodia gordonii after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot hoodia gordonii 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 hoodia gordonii after repotting?

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