Repotting guide
When & how to repot Pig's Ear (Cotyledon orbiculata)
Also called Pig's Ear, Round-Leafed Navel-Wort, Silver Crown, Edder.
More about pig's ear
About Pig's Ear
Cotyledon orbiculata · also called Pig's Ear, Round-Leafed Navel-Wort · houseplant
Cotyledon orbiculata is a robust South African succulent producing thick, powdery grey-green to cream-edged rounded leaves and attractive tubular orange-red flowers in summer. It forms a small shrubby plant and tolerates periods of drought. The ASPCA lists Cotyledon as toxic to cats and dogs.
Mature size: 30-60 cm tall and wide indoors
Watch for — Root rot: The primary risk from overwatering. Check that the pot has drainage holes and let the soil dry adequately before watering again.
How to tell pig's ear needs repotting
Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For pig's ear, 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 pig's ear
Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Pig's Ear's growth habit — upright to spreading shrubby succulent — sets the pace. Cotyledon orbiculata is a robust South African succulent producing thick, powdery grey-green to cream-edged rounded leaves and attractive tubular orange-red flowers in summer. It forms a small shrubby plant and tolerates periods of drought. The ASPCA lists Cotyledon as toxic to cats and dogs.
What size pot to step pig's ear up to
Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Pig's Ear 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 pig's ear
Spring or summer, while pig's ear 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 pig's ear
- Repot dry. Do not water pig's ear 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, free-draining succulent 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 pig's ear 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 pig's ear 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 pig's ear
Pig's Ear wants gritty, free-draining succulent mix. Blend standard potting mix with 40-50% coarse perlite or grit. The fleshy stems and roots rot quickly in waterlogged soil. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.
Repotting pig's ear — frequently asked questions
How often should you repot pig's ear?
Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for pig's ear. Repot pig's ear every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, free-draining succulent 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 pig's ear need?
Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Pig's Ear 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. Use our pot size calculator to size it from the plant's current pot and root spread.
When is the best time of year to repot pig's ear?
Spring or summer, while pig's ear 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.
Should you water pig's ear after repotting?
No — not straight away. Repot pig's ear 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 pig's ear after repotting?
Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting pig's ear. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.
Related guides
- Pig's Ear care — light, water, soil and common problems
- How often to water pig's ear — the watering brief
- How to repot a plant — the complete step-by-step method
- Root-bound plant — how to spot and fix it
- Pot size calculator — size the next pot correctly
- When & how to repot cardboard cycad
- When & how to repot wood's cycad
- When & how to repot cape cycad
- All 11687 repotting guides in the Growli library