Repotting guide

When & how to repot Pelargonium 'Prince of Orange' (Pelargonium 'Prince of Orange')

Also called Orange-scented pelargonium, Prince of Orange geranium.

More about pelargonium 'prince of orange'

About Pelargonium 'Prince of Orange'

Pelargonium 'Prince of Orange' · also called Orange-scented pelargonium, Prince of Orange geranium · herb

'Prince of Orange' is a compact scented-leaf pelargonium whose small, crinkled green leaves release a bright, sweet orange fragrance when touched. It carries dainty pale mauve-pink flowers and makes a tidy windowsill or patio herb. Like all pelargoniums it wants bright light, sharp drainage, warmth and protection from frost.

Mature size: Around 30-40 cm tall and 25-35 cm wide in a container.

Watch for — Few flowers or weak scent: Insufficient light reduces both blooming and fragrance; move to a sunnier position and feed with high-potash fertiliser.

How to tell pelargonium 'prince of orange' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For pelargonium 'prince of orange', watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot pelargonium 'prince of orange' on before it becomes hard root-bound.

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 'prince of orange'

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Pelargonium 'Prince of Orange'is grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Bushy, upright and relatively compact scented-leaf type; responds well to pinching, which keeps it dense and well-furnished with aromatic foliage..

What size pot to step pelargonium 'prince of orange' up to

Pot pelargonium 'prince of orange' on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

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 'prince of orange'

Pot pelargonium 'prince of orange' on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting pelargonium 'prince of orange'

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check pelargonium 'prince of orange' regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh free-draining loam-based or peat-free compost with added grit at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water pelargonium 'prince of orange' in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for pelargonium 'prince of orange'

Pelargonium 'Prince of Orange' wants free-draining loam-based or peat-free compost with added grit. Mix in perlite or horticultural grit for sharp drainage. A pot with drainage holes is essential — pelargoniums rot quickly in waterlogged 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 'prince of orange' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot pelargonium 'prince of orange'?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for pelargonium 'prince of orange'. Pelargonium 'Prince of Orange' is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into free-draining loam-based or peat-free compost with added grit so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does pelargonium 'prince of orange' need?

When is the best time of year to repot pelargonium 'prince of orange'?

Can you put pelargonium 'prince of orange' straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing pelargonium 'prince of orange' should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise pelargonium 'prince of orange' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting pelargonium 'prince of orange'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.