Repotting guide

When & how to repot Hottentot Fig (Carpobrotus edulis)

Also called Hottentot Fig, Highway Ice Plant, Cape Fig, Pigface.

More about hottentot fig

About Hottentot Fig

Carpobrotus edulis · also called Hottentot Fig, Highway Ice Plant · edible

A vigorous, mat-forming South African succulent with large, three-angled leaves and showy yellow, pink, or pale magenta daisy-like flowers up to 12 cm across. The fig-shaped fruits are edible, with a salty-sweet, astringent flavour. Naturalised on Mediterranean and Californian coasts; classified invasive in many regions. Highly drought-tolerant and salt-resistant.

Mature size: 20 cm tall; stems spreading 2–3 m or more

Watch for — Invasive spreading: A significant environmental weed in California, the Mediterranean, and parts of the UK coast. Stems root at nodes and can spread several metres per year, smothering native vegetation. Avoid planting near conservation areas or coastal cliff communities. Check local invasive species guidance before planting.

How to tell hottentot fig needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For hottentot fig, 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 hottentot fig

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Hottentot Fig's growth habit — vigorous, trailing, mat-forming succulent groundcover — sets the pace. A vigorous, mat-forming South African succulent with large, three-angled leaves and showy yellow, pink, or pale magenta daisy-like flowers up to 12 cm across. The fig-shaped fruits are edible, with a salty-sweet, astringent flavour. Naturalised on Mediterranean and Californian coasts; classified invasive in many regions. Highly drought-tolerant and salt-resistant.

What size pot to step hottentot fig up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Hottentot Fig 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 hottentot fig

Spring or summer, while hottentot fig 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 hottentot fig

Repot dry. Do not water hottentot fig 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 sandy, poor, well-drained soil; tolerates saline and coastal conditions 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 hottentot fig 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 hottentot fig 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 hottentot fig

Hottentot Fig wants sandy, poor, well-drained soil; tolerates saline and coastal conditions. Tolerates very poor, sandy, and rocky soils. Thrives in coastal, salt-exposed sites where few other plants survive. Requires sharp drainage — avoid clay or waterlogged ground. Will grow in near-pure sand if given adequate sun. Not suitable for enriched garden 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 hottentot fig — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot hottentot fig?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for hottentot fig. Repot hottentot fig every 2–3 years into a snug pot of sandy, poor, well-drained soil; tolerates saline and coastal conditions, 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 hottentot fig need?

When is the best time of year to repot hottentot fig?

Should you water hottentot fig after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot hottentot fig 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 hottentot fig after repotting?

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