Repotting guide

When & how to repot Hylotelephium telephium 'Munstead Dark Red' (Hylotelephium telephium 'Munstead Dark Red')

Also called Munstead Dark Red orpine, dark red stonecrop.

More about hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red'

About Hylotelephium telephium 'Munstead Dark Red'

Hylotelephium telephium 'Munstead Dark Red' · also called Munstead Dark Red orpine, dark red stonecrop · flowering

'Munstead Dark Red' is an orpine-type stonecrop with green-tinged-bronze foliage and deep brick-to-maroon flower heads from late summer into autumn. A robust, drought-tolerant border perennial, it feeds late-season bees and butterflies, then holds skeletal seed heads through winter. Like all hardy sedums it asks only for full sun and sharp drainage in poor soil.

Mature size: 40-50 cm tall and 40-45 cm wide (16-20 in).

Watch for — Winter crown rot: Wet, heavy soil rots the crown. Ensure sharp drainage and keep the root zone from sitting in standing water.

How to tell hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red', 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 hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red'

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Hylotelephium telephium 'Munstead Dark Red''s growth habit — upright clump-forming herbaceous perennial; succulent stems rise from a basal crown bearing rounded, flat flower heads. dies back in winter, reshooting from the base each spring. — sets the pace. 'Munstead Dark Red' is an orpine-type stonecrop with green-tinged-bronze foliage and deep brick-to-maroon flower heads from late summer into autumn. A robust, drought-tolerant border perennial, it feeds late-season bees and butterflies, then holds skeletal seed heads through winter. Like all hardy sedums it asks only for full sun and sharp drainage in poor soil.

What size pot to step hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Hylotelephium telephium 'Munstead Dark Red' 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 hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red'

Spring or summer, while hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' 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 hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red'

Repot dry. Do not water hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' 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 poor to average, sharply drained sandy or gritty loam 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 hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' 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 hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' 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 hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red'

Hylotelephium telephium 'Munstead Dark Red' wants poor to average, sharply drained sandy or gritty loam. Prefers lean soil at neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Rich, moist ground encourages lush, floppy stems. Improve heavy clay with grit before planting. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red'?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red'. Repot hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' every 2–3 years into a snug pot of poor to average, sharply drained sandy or gritty loam, 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 hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' need?

When is the best time of year to repot hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red'?

Should you water hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' 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 hylotelephium telephium 'munstead dark red' after repotting?

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