Repotting guide

When & how to repot Many-haired Draba (Draba polytricha)

Also called Many-haired Draba, Many-haired Whitlowgrass.

More about many-haired draba

About Many-haired Draba

Draba polytricha · also called Many-haired Draba, Many-haired Whitlowgrass · flowering

Many-haired Draba is a specialist cushion alpine from volcanic and rocky habitats in Turkey and Armenia, characterised by leaves densely clothed in star-shaped (stellate) hairs giving the plant a silver-grey appearance. Bright yellow flowers emerge in early spring on very short stems. It is highly regarded by alpine enthusiasts and best grown in an alpine house or well-protected trough.

Mature size: 6–10 cm tall in flower; 10–18 cm wide over many years

Watch for — Cushion die-back after stress: The plant can collapse suddenly after a wet period, heavy frost, or root disturbance. Act quickly: cut away dead portions, dust with sulphur, and replant healthy sections in fresh, dry gritty compost.

How to tell many-haired draba needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For many-haired draba, 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 many-haired draba

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Many-haired Draba's growth habit — dense, silver-grey cushion-forming evergreen alpine perennial; rosettes of stellate-hairy leaves forming a dome of 3–6 cm tall at rest, with flower stems to 8 cm. — sets the pace. Many-haired Draba is a specialist cushion alpine from volcanic and rocky habitats in Turkey and Armenia, characterised by leaves densely clothed in star-shaped (stellate) hairs giving the plant a silver-grey appearance. Bright yellow flowers emerge in early spring on very short stems. It is highly regarded by alpine enthusiasts and best grown in an alpine house or well-protected trough.

What size pot to step many-haired draba up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Many-haired Draba 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 many-haired draba

Spring or summer, while many-haired draba 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 many-haired draba

Repot dry. Do not water many-haired draba 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 extremely well-drained volcanic or gritty mineral 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 many-haired draba 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 many-haired draba 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 many-haired draba

Many-haired Draba wants extremely well-drained volcanic or gritty mineral mix. A mix of 60% pumice or lava grit, 20% loam, and 20% leaf mould reflects the species' volcanic rock habitat in Turkey. Neutral to slightly alkaline pH (6.8–7.5). Avoid all peat or moisture-retentive components. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting many-haired draba — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot many-haired draba?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for many-haired draba. Repot many-haired draba every 2–3 years into a snug pot of extremely well-drained volcanic or gritty mineral 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 many-haired draba need?

When is the best time of year to repot many-haired draba?

Should you water many-haired draba after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot many-haired draba 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 many-haired draba after repotting?

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