Repotting guide

When & how to repot Mathilde's Rock Jasmine (Androsace mathildae)

Also called Mathilde's rock jasmine, Mathilde's androsace.

More about mathilde's rock jasmine

About Mathilde's Rock Jasmine

Androsace mathildae · also called Mathilde's rock jasmine, Mathilde's androsace · flowering

Androsace mathildae is an extremely rare cushion-forming alpine endemic to the high limestone peaks of the central Apennines in Italy, found only above 2,350 m on Gran Sasso and Majella. It produces compact, silvery-hairy rosettes bearing small white to pale-pink flowers in late spring and demands near-perfect sharp drainage with protection from winter wet. As a true high-alpine, it thrives in cool summers and must never sit in waterlogged soil, making raised tufa crevices or alpine house cultivation the safest approach in UK gardens. Androsace is not listed by the ASPCA; as no pet-safety data is confirmed, treat it as mildly toxic and keep away from cats and dogs as a precaution.

Mature size: 5–10 cm tall, up to 15 cm wide

Watch for — Vine weevil: Larvae feed on roots and crowns at soil level, causing sudden wilting. Treat with nematode biological control (Steinernema kraussei) applied in early autumn when soil is still warm.

How to tell mathilde's rock jasmine needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For mathilde's rock jasmine, 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 mathilde's rock jasmine

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Mathilde's Rock Jasmine's growth habit — tight cushion-forming evergreen perennial; individual rosettes slowly compact into a dense hummock 5–15 cm across. — sets the pace. Androsace mathildae is an extremely rare cushion-forming alpine endemic to the high limestone peaks of the central Apennines in Italy, found only above 2,350 m on Gran Sasso and Majella. It produces compact, silvery-hairy rosettes bearing small white to pale-pink flowers in late spring and demands near-perfect sharp drainage with protection from winter wet. As a true high-alpine, it thrives in cool summers and must never sit in waterlogged soil, making raised tufa crevices or alpine house cultivation the safest approach in UK gardens. Androsace is not listed by the ASPCA; as no pet-safety data is confirmed, treat it as mildly toxic and keep away from cats and dogs as a precaution.

What size pot to step mathilde's rock jasmine up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Mathilde's Rock Jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine

Spring or summer, while mathilde's rock jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine

Repot dry. Do not water mathilde's rock jasmine 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 sharply drained gritty alpine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine

Mathilde's Rock Jasmine wants sharply drained gritty alpine mix. Use a 50:50 mix of coarse grit and lean loam or a commercial alpine compost; plant in vertical crevices in tufa rock or a raised scree bed for best drainage. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting mathilde's rock jasmine — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot mathilde's rock jasmine?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for mathilde's rock jasmine. Repot mathilde's rock jasmine every 2–3 years into a snug pot of sharply drained gritty alpine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine need?

When is the best time of year to repot mathilde's rock jasmine?

Should you water mathilde's rock jasmine after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot mathilde's rock jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine after repotting?

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