Repotting guide

When & how to repot Pelargonium 'Mrs Pollock' (Pelargonium 'Mrs Pollock')

Also called Mrs Pollock geranium, Tricolor zonal pelargonium.

More about pelargonium 'mrs pollock'

About Pelargonium 'Mrs Pollock'

Pelargonium 'Mrs Pollock' · also called Mrs Pollock geranium, Tricolor zonal pelargonium · flowering

Pelargonium 'Mrs Pollock' is a classic Victorian tricolour zonal geranium prized for its dazzling foliage: golden-green leaves edged in cream with a bronze-red horseshoe zone. Single orange-red flowers add to the show. A heritage fancy-leaf variety, it needs full sun to develop its richest leaf colour and is grown as much for foliage as for bloom.

Mature size: Around 25-40 cm tall and 25-30 cm wide.

Watch for — Poor leaf colour: Too little sun or excess nitrogen washes out the cream, gold and bronze zones. Move to full sun and use a high-potash, low-nitrogen feed.

How to tell pelargonium 'mrs pollock' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For pelargonium 'mrs pollock', 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 pelargonium 'mrs pollock'

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Pelargonium 'Mrs Pollock''s growth habit — slow-growing, compact and bushy zonal habit; less vigorous than plain-leaved geraniums. — sets the pace. Pelargonium 'Mrs Pollock' is a classic Victorian tricolour zonal geranium prized for its dazzling foliage: golden-green leaves edged in cream with a bronze-red horseshoe zone. Single orange-red flowers add to the show. A heritage fancy-leaf variety, it needs full sun to develop its richest leaf colour and is grown as much for foliage as for bloom.

What size pot to step pelargonium 'mrs pollock' up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Pelargonium 'Mrs Pollock' 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 pelargonium 'mrs pollock'

Spring or summer, while pelargonium 'mrs pollock' 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 pelargonium 'mrs pollock'

Repot dry. Do not water pelargonium 'mrs pollock' 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 loam-based or peat-free multipurpose compost 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 pelargonium 'mrs pollock' 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 pelargonium 'mrs pollock' 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 pelargonium 'mrs pollock'

Pelargonium 'Mrs Pollock' wants free-draining loam-based or peat-free multipurpose compost. Use an open, gritty mix (John Innes No. 2 plus 20-30% grit or perlite). Sharp drainage is vital, as fancy-leaf pelargoniums sulk and rot in heavy, wet compost. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting pelargonium 'mrs pollock' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot pelargonium 'mrs pollock'?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for pelargonium 'mrs pollock'. Repot pelargonium 'mrs pollock' every 2–3 years into a snug pot of free-draining loam-based or peat-free multipurpose compost, 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 pelargonium 'mrs pollock' need?

When is the best time of year to repot pelargonium 'mrs pollock'?

Should you water pelargonium 'mrs pollock' after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot pelargonium 'mrs pollock' 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 pelargonium 'mrs pollock' after repotting?

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