Repotting guide

When & how to repot Pelargonium 'Occold Lagoon' (Pelargonium 'Occold Lagoon')

Also called Occold Lagoon stellar geranium.

More about pelargonium 'occold lagoon'

About Pelargonium 'Occold Lagoon'

Pelargonium 'Occold Lagoon' · also called Occold Lagoon stellar geranium · flowering

'Occold Lagoon' is a stellar-type zonal pelargonium with star-shaped, narrow-petalled double flowers in soft salmon-pink and jagged, lightly zoned leaves. Compact and free-flowering, stellars bloom continuously through summer on tidy, bushy plants well suited to pots, windowsills and patio displays. It thrives in sun, tolerates short dry spells, and is grown as a tender perennial.

Mature size: 25-40 cm tall and wide.

Watch for — Leggy growth, few flowers: From insufficient light or missed feeding; move to full sun and feed with high-potash fertiliser in the growing season.

How to tell pelargonium 'occold lagoon' needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Pelargonium 'Occold Lagoon''s growth habit — compact, bushy evergreen perennial with jagged star-shaped leaves and star-form double flowers. — sets the pace. 'Occold Lagoon' is a stellar-type zonal pelargonium with star-shaped, narrow-petalled double flowers in soft salmon-pink and jagged, lightly zoned leaves. Compact and free-flowering, stellars bloom continuously through summer on tidy, bushy plants well suited to pots, windowsills and patio displays. It thrives in sun, tolerates short dry spells, and is grown as a tender perennial.

What size pot to step pelargonium 'occold lagoon' up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Pelargonium 'Occold Lagoon' 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 'occold lagoon'

Spring or summer, while pelargonium 'occold lagoon' 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 'occold lagoon'

Repot dry. Do not water pelargonium 'occold lagoon' 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, gritty potting 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 pelargonium 'occold lagoon' 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 'occold lagoon' 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 'occold lagoon'

Pelargonium 'Occold Lagoon' wants free-draining, gritty potting mix. A peat-free multipurpose compost with added perlite or grit suits it well. Sharp drainage is essential; waterlogged mix causes black-leg. Neutral to slightly alkaline pH is ideal. 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 'occold lagoon' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot pelargonium 'occold lagoon'?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for pelargonium 'occold lagoon'. Repot pelargonium 'occold lagoon' every 2–3 years into a snug pot of free-draining, gritty potting 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 pelargonium 'occold lagoon' need?

When is the best time of year to repot pelargonium 'occold lagoon'?

Should you water pelargonium 'occold lagoon' after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot pelargonium 'occold lagoon' 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 'occold lagoon' after repotting?

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