Repotting guide

When & how to repot Ludwigia repens (Ludwigia repens)

Also called creeping primrose-willow, red Ludwigia.

More about ludwigia repens

About Ludwigia repens

Ludwigia repens · also called creeping primrose-willow, red Ludwigia · tropical

A hardy, beginner-friendly aquascaping stem plant with broad oval leaves that are green on top and red-to-burgundy underneath, deepening to full red under strong light. Adaptable and undemanding, it grows with or without CO2 and tolerates a wide range of conditions, making it a reliable splash of colour in midground and background planted-tank layouts.

Mature size: Stems grow 25-50 cm tall and will reach the surface; branches into a wide, leafy clump.

Watch for — Lower-leaf drop: Shading from a dense canopy or low nutrients strips lower leaves. Thin the top, raise light, and add root tabs in inert substrate.

How to tell ludwigia repens needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For ludwigia repens, watch for these signs:

Roots poking out of the drainage holes or coiling visibly around the inside of the pot.
You are watering far more often than you used to because the rootball dries out within a day or two.
Water runs straight through and out the bottom without soaking in.
Top growth has slowed or new ludwigia repens leaves are noticeably smaller than older ones despite good light.

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 ludwigia repens

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast. Ludwigia repens's growth habit — upright branching stem plant with broad opposite leaves, forming dense, colourful stands; sturdy and moderately fast, creeping at the base to spread sideways. — sets the pace. A hardy, beginner-friendly aquascaping stem plant with broad oval leaves that are green on top and red-to-burgundy underneath, deepening to full red under strong light. Adaptable and undemanding, it grows with or without CO2 and tolerates a wide range of conditions, making it a reliable splash of colour in midground and background planted-tank layouts.

What size pot to step ludwigia repens up to

Step up one pot size — about 2–3 cm (an inch) wider. Ludwigia repens grows fast, so it will fill that space within a season, but jumping several sizes at once still backfires: the unused soil stays soggy and rots even a vigorous root system. One size at a time, every year or so, is the rhythm.

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 ludwigia repens

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for ludwigia repens. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting ludwigia repens

Time it for spring. Repot ludwigia repens in early spring as growth restarts so it re-roots quickly into the fresh soil.
Choose one size up. Pick a pot about 2–3 cm wider with drainage holes. One step only — a much bigger pot stays soggy and rots roots.
Ease the plant out. Water lightly the day before, then tip ludwigia repens out and gently loosen any roots circling the bottom of the rootball.
Repot at the same depth. Put a layer of fresh aquarium gravel or aquasoil substrate in the new pot, set the plant so its soil line is unchanged, and backfill, firming lightly.
Water and pause feeding. Water once to settle the soil. Hold off fertiliser for about a month — fresh mix already has nutrients and feeding now burns new roots.

Aftercare

Water ludwigia repens once to settle the soil, then let the surface dry before watering again — fresh mix around the roots stays wetter than the old compacted ball, so the commonest post-repot mistake is overwatering. Keep it out of direct sun for a week or two while roots re-establish. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for ludwigia repens

Ludwigia repens wants aquarium gravel or aquasoil substrate. Roots readily in gravel, sand or nutrient aquasoil. A heavier root feeder than the rotalas, it benefits from root tabs in inert substrates. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting ludwigia repens — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot ludwigia repens?

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast for ludwigia repens. Repot ludwigia repens roughly every 12–18 months, in early spring as growth restarts. It grows fast and circles its pot quickly, so step up one size (about 2–3 cm wider) into fresh aquarium gravel or aquasoil substrate. Don't jump several sizes — that soggy excess soil is what rots vigorous roots.

What size pot does ludwigia repens need?

When is the best time of year to repot ludwigia repens?

Can you put ludwigia repens straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing ludwigia repens should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise ludwigia repens after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting ludwigia repens. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.