Repotting guide

When & how to repot Ruellia makoyana (Ruellia makoyana)

Also called Monkey plant, Trailing velvet plant.

More about ruellia makoyana

About Ruellia makoyana

Ruellia makoyana · also called Monkey plant, Trailing velvet plant · tropical

Ruellia makoyana, the monkey plant, is a low, trailing Brazilian tropical grown for velvety olive-green leaves with silvery veins and purple undersides, plus rosy-pink trumpet flowers. It loves warmth, high humidity, and bright filtered light, making an excellent hanging-basket or terrarium plant where its spreading, soft-textured stems can cascade.

Mature size: Around 20-30 cm tall with trailing stems spreading 30-60 cm or more.

How to tell ruellia makoyana needs repotting

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

Roots poking out of the drainage holes or coiling visibly around the inside of the pot.
You are watering far more often than you used to because the rootball dries out within a day or two.
Water runs straight through and out the bottom without soaking in.
Top growth has slowed or new ruellia makoyana leaves are noticeably smaller than older ones despite good light.

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 ruellia makoyana

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast. Ruellia makoyana's growth habit — low, spreading, trailing-to-decumbent evergreen perennial; stems root where they touch moist soil. pinch tips to keep it bushy and to encourage cascading growth in baskets. — sets the pace. Ruellia makoyana, the monkey plant, is a low, trailing Brazilian tropical grown for velvety olive-green leaves with silvery veins and purple undersides, plus rosy-pink trumpet flowers. It loves warmth, high humidity, and bright filtered light, making an excellent hanging-basket or terrarium plant where its spreading, soft-textured stems can cascade.

What size pot to step ruellia makoyana up to

Step up one pot size — about 2–3 cm (an inch) wider. Ruellia makoyana grows fast, so it will fill that space within a season, but jumping several sizes at once still backfires: the unused soil stays soggy and rots even a vigorous root system. One size at a time, every year or so, is the rhythm.

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 ruellia makoyana

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for ruellia makoyana. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting ruellia makoyana

Time it for spring. Repot ruellia makoyana in early spring as growth restarts so it re-roots quickly into the fresh soil.
Choose one size up. Pick a pot about 2–3 cm wider with drainage holes. One step only — a much bigger pot stays soggy and rots roots.
Ease the plant out. Water lightly the day before, then tip ruellia makoyana out and gently loosen any roots circling the bottom of the rootball.
Repot at the same depth. Put a layer of fresh rich, moisture-retentive, free-draining mix in the new pot, set the plant so its soil line is unchanged, and backfill, firming lightly.
Water and pause feeding. Water once to settle the soil. Hold off fertiliser for about a month — fresh mix already has nutrients and feeding now burns new roots.

Aftercare

Water ruellia makoyana once to settle the soil, then let the surface dry before watering again — fresh mix around the roots stays wetter than the old compacted ball, so the commonest post-repot mistake is overwatering. Keep it out of direct sun for a week or two while roots re-establish. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for ruellia makoyana

Ruellia makoyana wants rich, moisture-retentive, free-draining mix. A peat-free houseplant mix with added compost and perlite holds moisture while draining freely. Slightly acidic to neutral pH suits it. Drainage holes are essential to prevent the roots rotting in this moisture-loving species. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting ruellia makoyana — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot ruellia makoyana?

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast for ruellia makoyana. Repot ruellia makoyana roughly every 12–18 months, in early spring as growth restarts. It grows fast and circles its pot quickly, so step up one size (about 2–3 cm wider) into fresh rich, moisture-retentive, free-draining mix. Don't jump several sizes — that soggy excess soil is what rots vigorous roots.

What size pot does ruellia makoyana need?

When is the best time of year to repot ruellia makoyana?

Can you put ruellia makoyana straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing ruellia makoyana 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 ruellia makoyana after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting ruellia makoyana. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.