Repotting guide

When & how to repot Rudbeckia 'Pot of Gold' (Rudbeckia hirta 'Pot of Gold')

Also called Pot of Gold black-eyed Susan, gloriosa daisy, black-eyed Susan.

More about rudbeckia 'pot of gold'

About Rudbeckia 'Pot of Gold'

Rudbeckia hirta 'Pot of Gold' · also called Pot of Gold black-eyed Susan, gloriosa daisy · flowering

Rudbeckia hirta 'Pot of Gold' is a compact, free-flowering black-eyed Susan producing large, fully double golden-yellow blooms with no visible central cone. It grows as an annual or short-lived perennial and blooms prolifically from midsummer to autumn. The ASPCA lists Rudbeckia as non-toxic to dogs and cats.

Mature size: 50-70 cm tall, 30-45 cm spread

Watch for — Crown rot: In waterlogged or compacted soil. Ensure sharp drainage and do not overwater established plants.

How to tell rudbeckia 'pot of gold' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For rudbeckia 'pot of gold', 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 rudbeckia 'pot of gold' 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 rudbeckia 'pot of gold'

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Rudbeckia 'Pot of Gold'is grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Upright, bushy annual or short-lived perennial.

What size pot to step rudbeckia 'pot of gold' up to

Pot rudbeckia 'pot of gold' 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 rudbeckia 'pot of gold'

Pot rudbeckia 'pot of gold' 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 rudbeckia 'pot of gold'

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check rudbeckia 'pot of gold' 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 average to moderately fertile, well-drained soil 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 rudbeckia 'pot of gold' 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 rudbeckia 'pot of gold'

Rudbeckia 'Pot of Gold' wants average to moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Tolerates a wide range of soils including clay and sandy loam. A pH of 6.0-7.5 is fine. Very rich, fertile soil promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers — lean soil is actually 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 rudbeckia 'pot of gold' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot rudbeckia 'pot of gold'?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for rudbeckia 'pot of gold'. Rudbeckia 'Pot of Gold' is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into average to moderately fertile, well-drained soil 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 rudbeckia 'pot of gold' need?

When is the best time of year to repot rudbeckia 'pot of gold'?

Can you put rudbeckia 'pot of gold' straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing rudbeckia 'pot of gold' 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 rudbeckia 'pot of gold' after repotting?

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