Repotting guide

When & how to repot Oreocharis auricula (Oreocharis auricula)

Also called ear-shaped oreocharis, Chinese alpine gesneriad.

More about oreocharis auricula

About Oreocharis auricula

Oreocharis auricula · also called ear-shaped oreocharis, Chinese alpine gesneriad · flowering

Oreocharis auricula is a rosette-forming alpine gesneriad from the cool, rocky, humid mountains of southern China, grown for nodding clusters of tubular purple-blue flowers on slender stalks above a flat rosette of softly hairy leaves. A choice plant for cool, shaded, well-drained conditions, it appeals to alpine and gesneriad collectors and tolerates real cold.

Mature size: Rosette 10-20 cm across; flower stalks rise 15-25 cm tall.

How to tell oreocharis auricula needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For oreocharis auricula, 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 oreocharis auricula

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Oreocharis auricula's growth habit — evergreen to semi-evergreen rosette-forming perennial. a flat basal rosette of hairy leaves throws up leafless flower stalks bearing nodding clusters of tubular blooms in late spring and summer; spreads slowly by offsets. — sets the pace. Oreocharis auricula is a rosette-forming alpine gesneriad from the cool, rocky, humid mountains of southern China, grown for nodding clusters of tubular purple-blue flowers on slender stalks above a flat rosette of softly hairy leaves. A choice plant for cool, shaded, well-drained conditions, it appeals to alpine and gesneriad collectors and tolerates real cold.

What size pot to step oreocharis auricula up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Oreocharis auricula 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 oreocharis auricula

Spring or summer, while oreocharis auricula 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 oreocharis auricula

Repot dry. Do not water oreocharis auricula 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 gritty, sharply drained alpine/humus 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 oreocharis auricula 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 oreocharis auricula 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 oreocharis auricula

Oreocharis auricula wants gritty, sharply drained alpine/humus mix. Blend humus-rich leaf mould or coir with plenty of grit and perlite for the fast drainage an alpine demands, while retaining some moisture. A little crushed limestone or rock suits its cliff origins. Sharp drainage around the crown is the key to keeping it alive. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting oreocharis auricula — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot oreocharis auricula?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for oreocharis auricula. Repot oreocharis auricula every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, sharply drained alpine/humus 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 oreocharis auricula need?

When is the best time of year to repot oreocharis auricula?

Should you water oreocharis auricula after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot oreocharis auricula 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 oreocharis auricula after repotting?

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