Repotting guide

When & how to repot Rock Jasmine (Androsace sarmentosa)

Also called Rock Jasmine, Sarmentose Androsace.

More about rock jasmine

About Rock Jasmine

Androsace sarmentosa · also called Rock Jasmine, Sarmentose Androsace · flowering

Rock Jasmine is a charming, mat-forming alpine perennial from the Himalayas and western China. Silvery-hairy rosettes spread by stolons to form wide colonies, smothered in spring and early summer with heads of deep pink to rose flowers with yellow eyes. An excellent choice for rock gardens, scree beds, and stone troughs; fully frost-hardy.

Mature size: 8–12 cm tall, spreading 30–50 cm wide over several seasons

How to tell rock jasmine needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For rock jasmine, 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 rock jasmine

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Rock Jasmine's growth habit — stoloniferous mat-forming perennial; spreads by runners producing daughter rosettes — sets the pace. Rock Jasmine is a charming, mat-forming alpine perennial from the Himalayas and western China. Silvery-hairy rosettes spread by stolons to form wide colonies, smothered in spring and early summer with heads of deep pink to rose flowers with yellow eyes. An excellent choice for rock gardens, scree beds, and stone troughs; fully frost-hardy.

What size pot to step rock jasmine up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Rock Jasmine 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 rock jasmine

Spring or summer, while rock jasmine 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 rock jasmine

Repot dry. Do not water rock jasmine 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, well-drained loam or alpine 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 rock jasmine 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 rock jasmine 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 rock jasmine

Rock Jasmine wants gritty, well-drained loam or alpine mix. A mix of equal parts loam, leaf mould, and coarse grit suits this species well. It tolerates slightly more moisture-retentive soil than high-altitude Androsace species but still needs free drainage. Neutral to slightly acidic pH (5.5–7.0) is preferred. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting rock jasmine — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot rock jasmine?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for rock jasmine. Repot rock jasmine every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, well-drained loam or alpine 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 rock jasmine need?

When is the best time of year to repot rock jasmine?

Should you water rock jasmine after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot rock jasmine 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 rock jasmine after repotting?

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