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Repotting guide

When & how to repot Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Also called common rosemary, garden rosemary.

About Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus · also called common rosemary, garden rosemary · herb

Rosemary is a Mediterranean evergreen shrub with needle-like aromatic leaves used widely in cooking. It loves sun and free-draining soil and dislikes wet feet, especially in winter. Hardy in mild climates; container-grown elsewhere. Pet-safe by ASPCA standards.

Rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus (formerly Rosmarinus officinalis, family Lamiaceae), is native to the Mediterranean basin and adjacent dry parts of southern Europe, North Africa and western Asia, growing wild in hot, dry, rocky scrubland.

It needs sharply drained, light, slightly acidic soil and tolerates most soils except heavy clay; planting in lean, gritty, well-drained ground (or raised beds/containers) is the single biggest factor in long-term survival.

Mature size: 60-150 cm tall and wide

Watch for — Yellow tips: Iron deficiency in alkaline pots or under-watering after a long drought.

Sources: plants.ces.ncsu.edu, missouribotanicalgarden.org, kew.org

How to tell rosemary needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For rosemary, watch for these signs:

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 rosemary

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Rosemary's growth habit — woody evergreen subshrub — sets the pace. Rosemary is a Mediterranean evergreen shrub with needle-like aromatic leaves used widely in cooking. It loves sun and free-draining soil and dislikes wet feet, especially in winter. Hardy in mild climates; container-grown elsewhere. Pet-safe by ASPCA standards.

What size pot to step rosemary up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Rosemary 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 rosemary

Spring or summer, while rosemary 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 rosemary

  1. Repot dry. Do not water rosemary for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
  2. Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty gritty, free-draining alkaline soil ready.
  3. 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.
  4. Pot into dry mix. Set rosemary at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
  5. 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 rosemary 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 rosemary

Rosemary wants gritty, free-draining alkaline soil. pH 6.5-7.5. Mediterranean herb mix or standard compost with 30% grit. Raised beds suit it. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting rosemary — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot rosemary?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for rosemary. Repot rosemary every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, free-draining alkaline 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 rosemary need?

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Rosemary 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 rosemary?

Spring or summer, while rosemary 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 rosemary after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot rosemary 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 rosemary after repotting?

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

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