Repotting guide

When & how to repot Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' (Phedimus spurius)

Also called Dragon's Blood Sedum, Two-Row Stonecrop, Caucasian Stonecrop.

More about stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

About Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood'

Phedimus spurius · also called Dragon's Blood Sedum, Two-Row Stonecrop · flowering

Phedimus spurius 'Dragon's Blood' (formerly Sedum spurium 'Schorbuser Blut') is a vigorous ground-covering stonecrop with semi-evergreen bronze-red tinted foliage that intensifies to vivid red in cold weather. Deep rose-pink flowers cover the mat in midsummer. Tough, drought-tolerant, and ideal for rock gardens, walls, and edging. Considered pet-safe based on ASPCA Sedum guidance.

Mature size: 5-15 cm tall, 30-60 cm spread

Watch for — Root and crown rot: Caused by waterlogged or heavy, poorly drained soil; always plant in gritty, free-draining conditions.

How to tell stonecrop 'dragon's blood' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For stonecrop 'dragon's blood', 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood''s growth habit — trailing to spreading mat-forming semi-evergreen succulent perennial — sets the pace. Phedimus spurius 'Dragon's Blood' (formerly Sedum spurium 'Schorbuser Blut') is a vigorous ground-covering stonecrop with semi-evergreen bronze-red tinted foliage that intensifies to vivid red in cold weather. Deep rose-pink flowers cover the mat in midsummer. Tough, drought-tolerant, and ideal for rock gardens, walls, and edging. Considered pet-safe based on ASPCA Sedum guidance.

What size pot to step stonecrop 'dragon's blood' up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

Spring or summer, while stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

Repot dry. Do not water stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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 sharply draining, gritty or sandy soil; poor to average fertility 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' wants sharply draining, gritty or sandy soil; poor to average fertility. Rich or fertile soils produce rank green growth and reduce the ornamental red colouring. Lean, well-drained, gritty soils produce compact, intensely coloured mats. A pH of 6.0–7.5 is suitable. Add coarse grit to clay soils before planting. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting stonecrop 'dragon's blood' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot stonecrop 'dragon's blood'?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for stonecrop 'dragon's blood'. Repot stonecrop 'dragon's blood' every 2–3 years into a snug pot of sharply draining, gritty or sandy soil; poor to average fertility, 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood' need?

When is the best time of year to repot stonecrop 'dragon's blood'?

Should you water stonecrop 'dragon's blood' after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood' after repotting?

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