Repotting guide

When & how to repot Old Father Live Forever (Pelargonium cotyledonis)

Also called Old Father Live Forever, St Helena Geranium.

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About Old Father Live Forever

Pelargonium cotyledonis · also called Old Father Live Forever, St Helena Geranium · flowering

Pelargonium cotyledonis is a remarkable succulent-stemmed species endemic to the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic, making it one of the few pelargoniums native outside continental Africa. It forms a thick, pale, water-storing stem topped with large, rounded, slightly hairy leaves and produces clusters of small white flowers. Its unique island origin means it tolerates slightly more moisture and cooler summers than Cape species, but still demands excellent drainage and a frost-free minimum. Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

Mature size: 30–60 cm tall in cultivation; can be larger in ideal outdoor conditions

How to tell old father live forever needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For old father live forever, 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 old father live forever

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Old Father Live Forever's growth habit — upright, single-stemmed or sparsely branched succulent shrublet with a smooth, swollen, pale green-grey trunk; older plants develop a distinctly bonsai-like appearance. — sets the pace. Pelargonium cotyledonis is a remarkable succulent-stemmed species endemic to the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic, making it one of the few pelargoniums native outside continental Africa. It forms a thick, pale, water-storing stem topped with large, rounded, slightly hairy leaves and produces clusters of small white flowers. Its unique island origin means it tolerates slightly more moisture and cooler summers than Cape species, but still demands excellent drainage and a frost-free minimum. Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

What size pot to step old father live forever up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Old Father Live Forever 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 old father live forever

Spring or summer, while old father live forever 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 old father live forever

Repot dry. Do not water old father live forever 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 draining, gritty, low-fertility 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 old father live forever 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 old father live forever 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 old father live forever

Old Father Live Forever wants sharply draining, gritty, low-fertility mix. A mix of 50% loam or cactus compost and 50% coarse grit or perlite prevents waterlogging around the fleshy stem. Always pot in containers with drainage holes and tip out any saucer water promptly. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting old father live forever — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot old father live forever?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for old father live forever. Repot old father live forever every 2–3 years into a snug pot of sharply draining, gritty, low-fertility 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 old father live forever need?

When is the best time of year to repot old father live forever?

Should you water old father live forever after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot old father live forever 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 old father live forever after repotting?

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