Repotting guide

When & how to repot Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant')

Also called Six Hills Giant catmint, tall catmint.

More about nepeta 'six hills giant'

About Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant'

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' · also called Six Hills Giant catmint, tall catmint · flowering

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' is a large, vigorous catmint forming billowing mounds of grey-green aromatic foliage smothered in long spikes of lavender-blue flowers from early summer. Exceptionally bee-friendly, drought-tolerant and easy, it is a classic for softening path edges and rose borders. A hard cut-back after the first flush triggers a strong second bloom into autumn.

Mature size: 75-90 cm tall, 60-90 cm wide.

How to tell nepeta 'six hills giant' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For nepeta 'six hills giant', 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 nepeta 'six hills giant'

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant''s growth habit — large, mound-forming clump of sprawling aromatic stems; non-running and clump-forming, reaching substantial width. — sets the pace. Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' is a large, vigorous catmint forming billowing mounds of grey-green aromatic foliage smothered in long spikes of lavender-blue flowers from early summer. Exceptionally bee-friendly, drought-tolerant and easy, it is a classic for softening path edges and rose borders. A hard cut-back after the first flush triggers a strong second bloom into autumn.

What size pot to step nepeta 'six hills giant' up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' 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 nepeta 'six hills giant'

Spring or summer, while nepeta 'six hills giant' 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 nepeta 'six hills giant'

Repot dry. Do not water nepeta 'six hills giant' 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 free-draining, light soil of low to moderate fertility 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 nepeta 'six hills giant' 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 nepeta 'six hills giant' 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 nepeta 'six hills giant'

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' wants free-draining, light soil of low to moderate fertility. Thrives in poor, dry, gritty or sandy soils and tolerates chalk. Sharp drainage is key, especially over winter. Avoid rich, moist ground, which causes lush, floppy growth. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting nepeta 'six hills giant' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot nepeta 'six hills giant'?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for nepeta 'six hills giant'. Repot nepeta 'six hills giant' every 2–3 years into a snug pot of free-draining, light soil of low to moderate fertility, 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 nepeta 'six hills giant' need?

When is the best time of year to repot nepeta 'six hills giant'?

Should you water nepeta 'six hills giant' after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot nepeta 'six hills giant' 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 nepeta 'six hills giant' after repotting?

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