Repotting guide

When & how to repot Pink Pussytoes (Antennaria dioica 'Rosea')

Also called Pink Pussytoes, Mountain Everlasting, Catsfoot.

More about pink pussytoes

About Pink Pussytoes

Antennaria dioica 'Rosea' · also called Pink Pussytoes, Mountain Everlasting · flowering

Pink Pussytoes is a compact, silver-leaved alpine perennial prized for its tight mats of woolly grey-green foliage and fluffy, deep-pink papery flowerheads in late spring. It is extremely drought-tolerant and thrives in hot, dry rock gardens, scree beds, or the front of well-drained borders, drawing butterflies and pollinators.

Mature size: 5–10 cm tall; spreads 20–30 cm wide

Watch for — Root and crown rot: The most common problem, caused by wet or heavy soils. Plant in sharply drained gritty mix and never irrigate established plants unless conditions are extremely dry.

How to tell pink pussytoes needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For pink pussytoes, 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 pink pussytoes

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Pink Pussytoes's growth habit — low, mat-forming, stoloniferous perennial with woolly silvery foliage — sets the pace. Pink Pussytoes is a compact, silver-leaved alpine perennial prized for its tight mats of woolly grey-green foliage and fluffy, deep-pink papery flowerheads in late spring. It is extremely drought-tolerant and thrives in hot, dry rock gardens, scree beds, or the front of well-drained borders, drawing butterflies and pollinators.

What size pot to step pink pussytoes up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Pink Pussytoes 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 pink pussytoes

Spring or summer, while pink pussytoes 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 pink pussytoes

Repot dry. Do not water pink pussytoes 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 sharply drained, lean, sandy or gritty soil 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 pink pussytoes 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 pink pussytoes 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 pink pussytoes

Pink Pussytoes wants sharply drained, lean, sandy or gritty soil. Thrives in poor, low-fertility, well-drained soils typical of alpine scree or rock gardens. pH 6.0–7.5. Rich or moisture-retentive soils cause lax, disease-prone plants. Never add excessive organic matter. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting pink pussytoes — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot pink pussytoes?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for pink pussytoes. Repot pink pussytoes every 2–3 years into a snug pot of sharply drained, lean, sandy or gritty soil, 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 pink pussytoes need?

When is the best time of year to repot pink pussytoes?

Should you water pink pussytoes after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot pink pussytoes 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 pink pussytoes after repotting?

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