Repotting guide

When & how to repot Sally-My-Handsome (Carpobrotus acinaciformis)

Also called Sally-My-Handsome, Giant Pigface, Sour Fig, Large-flowered Carpobrotus.

More about sally-my-handsome

About Sally-My-Handsome

Carpobrotus acinaciformis · also called Sally-My-Handsome, Giant Pigface · flowering

A robust, fast-growing mat-forming succulent from South Africa with thick, sickle-shaped blue-green leaves and enormous deep magenta to cerise-pink daisy-like flowers up to 14 cm across — among the largest in the ice-plant family. Excellent for coastal erosion control and dry, sunny banks. Highly drought- and salt-tolerant; classified invasive in the Mediterranean and UK coasts.

Mature size: 20–30 cm tall; stems spreading 2 m or more

Watch for — Invasive spread: Listed as invasive in the Mediterranean, parts of the British Isles coast, and elsewhere. Stem tips root where they touch the ground and can colonise cliff faces and dune systems rapidly, displacing native flora. Check local and national invasive species regulations before planting near natural habitats.

How to tell sally-my-handsome needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For sally-my-handsome, 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 sally-my-handsome

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Sally-My-Handsome's growth habit — robust, trailing, mat-forming succulent groundcover — sets the pace. A robust, fast-growing mat-forming succulent from South Africa with thick, sickle-shaped blue-green leaves and enormous deep magenta to cerise-pink daisy-like flowers up to 14 cm across — among the largest in the ice-plant family. Excellent for coastal erosion control and dry, sunny banks. Highly drought- and salt-tolerant; classified invasive in the Mediterranean and UK coasts.

What size pot to step sally-my-handsome up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Sally-My-Handsome 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 sally-my-handsome

Spring or summer, while sally-my-handsome 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 sally-my-handsome

Repot dry. Do not water sally-my-handsome 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 sandy, poor, sharply drained soil; tolerates rocky and saline substrates 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 sally-my-handsome 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 sally-my-handsome 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 sally-my-handsome

Sally-My-Handsome wants sandy, poor, sharply drained soil; tolerates rocky and saline substrates. Thrives in very poor, sandy, or rocky, free-draining soils. Tolerates salt spray and coastal conditions excellently. A standard cactus compost is suitable for container growing. Avoid clay or moisture-retentive substrates. Plant on slopes or in raised beds for adequate drainage. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting sally-my-handsome — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot sally-my-handsome?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for sally-my-handsome. Repot sally-my-handsome every 2–3 years into a snug pot of sandy, poor, sharply drained soil; tolerates rocky and saline substrates, 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 sally-my-handsome need?

When is the best time of year to repot sally-my-handsome?

Should you water sally-my-handsome after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot sally-my-handsome 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 sally-my-handsome after repotting?

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