Repotting guide

When & how to repot Silver Mound Artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana')

Also called Silver Mound, Silver Mound artemisia, silky wormwood.

More about silver mound artemisia

About Silver Mound Artemisia

Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana' · also called Silver Mound, Silver Mound artemisia · flowering

Silver Mound is a compact ornamental wormwood grown for its soft, feathery, silvery-silken foliage that forms a neat cushion-like dome. Its insignificant flowers are secondary to the shimmering leaf texture, which contrasts beautifully in borders and edging. A sun-loving, drought-hardy perennial, it demands sharp drainage and lean soil, and tends to split open in rich or moist ground.

Mature size: 20-30 cm tall and 30-45 cm wide.

Watch for — Floppiness from over-feeding: Fertile soil and feeding cause loose, sprawling growth. Grow it hungry in poor ground and skip fertiliser to keep it compact.

How to tell silver mound artemisia needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For silver mound artemisia, 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 silver mound artemisia

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Silver Mound Artemisia's growth habit — low, dense, cushion-forming herbaceous perennial of fine filigree foliage making a rounded silver mound, grown for texture rather than its minor flowers. — sets the pace. Silver Mound is a compact ornamental wormwood grown for its soft, feathery, silvery-silken foliage that forms a neat cushion-like dome. Its insignificant flowers are secondary to the shimmering leaf texture, which contrasts beautifully in borders and edging. A sun-loving, drought-hardy perennial, it demands sharp drainage and lean soil, and tends to split open in rich or moist ground.

What size pot to step silver mound artemisia up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Silver Mound Artemisia 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 silver mound artemisia

Spring or summer, while silver mound artemisia 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 silver mound artemisia

Repot dry. Do not water silver mound artemisia 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 lean, gritty, sharply drained soil, neutral to slightly alkaline 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 silver mound artemisia 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 silver mound artemisia 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 silver mound artemisia

Silver Mound Artemisia wants lean, gritty, sharply drained soil, neutral to slightly alkaline. Insists on poor, dry, free-draining ground. Rich or moisture-retentive soil makes it open up and collapse in the middle. Add grit generously to heavy clay. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting silver mound artemisia — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot silver mound artemisia?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for silver mound artemisia. Repot silver mound artemisia every 2–3 years into a snug pot of lean, gritty, sharply drained soil, neutral to slightly alkaline, 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 silver mound artemisia need?

When is the best time of year to repot silver mound artemisia?

Should you water silver mound artemisia after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot silver mound artemisia 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 silver mound artemisia after repotting?

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