Repotting guide

When & how to repot Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana)

Also called Pineapple guava, Feijoa, Guavasteen.

More about pineapple guava

About Pineapple guava

Feijoa sellowiana · also called Pineapple guava, Feijoa · edible

An evergreen shrub bearing pineapple-mint-flavored fruit, pineapple guava thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. Hardy to around 15°F (-9°C), it suits zones 8–11 and warmer UK coastal gardens. Water regularly during fruit development, fertilize lightly, and shelter from harsh winds for best harvests.

Mature size: 1.5–2.5 m tall and wide (5–8 ft); can be grown larger in optimal conditions or kept compact by pruning

Watch for — Frost damage to flowers: Late spring frosts can destroy flower buds and developing fruitlets even when the plant itself is unharmed. Grow in a sheltered, south-facing spot or against a wall in marginal UK zones (H3). Fleece-protect during unexpected cold snaps in flower.

How to tell pineapple guava needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For pineapple guava, 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 pineapple guava 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 pineapple guava

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Pineapple guavais grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Rounded, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub; dense, bushy growth with silvery-green leaves, grey-green beneath.

What size pot to step pineapple guava up to

Pot pineapple guava 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 pineapple guava

Pot pineapple guava 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 pineapple guava

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check pineapple guava 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 well-drained loam or sandy loam 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 pineapple guava 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 pineapple guava

Pineapple guava wants well-drained loam or sandy loam. Prefers light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil with pH 5.5–7.0. Tolerates chalk and sandy soils; will grow in clay if drainage is excellent. Does not tolerate waterlogged or constantly wet conditions. Incorporate organic matter at planting. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting pineapple guava — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot pineapple guava?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for pineapple guava. Pineapple guava is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into well-drained loam or sandy loam 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 pineapple guava need?

When is the best time of year to repot pineapple guava?

Can you put pineapple guava straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing pineapple guava 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 pineapple guava after repotting?

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