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Repotting guide

When & how to repot Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia)

Also called macadamia, smooth-shelled macadamia, Queensland nut.

More about macadamia

About Macadamia

Macadamia integrifolia · also called macadamia, smooth-shelled macadamia · edible

The smooth-shelled macadamia is a handsome subtropical evergreen yielding the world's richest dessert nut. Native to coastal Queensland rainforest, it wants warm, frost-free conditions, deep fertile acidic soil, and steady moisture. Trees are slow to bear (grafted plants in 4-6 years) but long-lived and productive, with glossy foliage and pendulous sprays of cream flowers.

Mature size: 8-15 m tall and 6-10 m wide in the ground; readily kept smaller by pruning, and grafted trees stay more compact.

Watch for — Frost and wind damage: Young trees are killed by frost and the brittle wood snaps in storms. Site in a sheltered, frost-free spot and stake until established.

How to tell macadamia needs repotting

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

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 macadamia

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Macadamiais grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Dense, rounded evergreen tree with whorled, glossy leaves and long racemes of cream flowers followed by hard-shelled nuts in a green husk. Moderate, somewhat brittle growth that benefits from wind shelter..

What size pot to step macadamia up to

Pot macadamia on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

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 macadamia

Pot macadamia on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting macadamia

  1. Pot on before it is root-bound. Check macadamia regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
  2. Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
  3. Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
  4. Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh deep, fertile, well-drained acidic loam, rich in organic matter at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
  5. Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water macadamia in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for macadamia

Macadamia wants deep, fertile, well-drained acidic loam, rich in organic matter. Prefers pH 5.0-6.5. The shallow proteoid root system needs friable, free-draining soil and resents heavy clay, alkalinity, and salinity. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting macadamia — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot macadamia?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for macadamia. Macadamia is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into deep, fertile, well-drained acidic loam, rich in organic matter so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does macadamia need?

Pot macadamia on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check. Use our pot size calculator to size it from the plant's current pot and root spread.

When is the best time of year to repot macadamia?

Pot macadamia on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Can you put macadamia straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing macadamia 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 macadamia after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting macadamia. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.

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