Repotting guide

When & how to repot Southernwood-leaved Pelargonium (Pelargonium abrotanifolium)

Also called Southernwood-leaved Pelargonium, Camphor Pelargonium, Wormwood-leaved Geranium.

More about southernwood-leaved pelargonium

About Southernwood-leaved Pelargonium

Pelargonium abrotanifolium · also called Southernwood-leaved Pelargonium, Camphor Pelargonium · herb

Pelargonium abrotanifolium is a compact, shrubby scented-leaf species from the dry rocky hillsides of South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape, named for its feathery, deeply divided leaves that closely resemble those of southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) and carry a fresh, camphor-like fragrance. Small white to pale pink flowers with dark-purple veining appear through spring and summer. Hardy to a light frost once established but best treated as a conservatory or frost-free patio plant in the UK; it is one of the more drought-tolerant pelargoniums and must have sharply draining soil. Toxic to cats and dogs.

Mature size: 30-60 cm tall and 30-50 cm wide

Watch for — Root rot in wet compost: The most common cause of failure in UK gardens; this dry-scrub native rots quickly in moisture-retentive soil or during wet winters. Grow in very gritty compost, pot in terracotta, and bring under cover before persistent autumn rain begins.

How to tell southernwood-leaved pelargonium needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For southernwood-leaved pelargonium, 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 southernwood-leaved pelargonium

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Southernwood-leaved Pelargonium's growth habit — compact, bushy, semi-woody evergreen shrublet with finely divided, feathery, camphor-scented foliage; naturally well-branched with a twiggy, mounded habit. — sets the pace. Pelargonium abrotanifolium is a compact, shrubby scented-leaf species from the dry rocky hillsides of South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape, named for its feathery, deeply divided leaves that closely resemble those of southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) and carry a fresh, camphor-like fragrance. Small white to pale pink flowers with dark-purple veining appear through spring and summer. Hardy to a light frost once established but best treated as a conservatory or frost-free patio plant in the UK; it is one of the more drought-tolerant pelargoniums and must have sharply draining soil. Toxic to cats and dogs.

What size pot to step southernwood-leaved pelargonium up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Southernwood-leaved Pelargonium 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 southernwood-leaved pelargonium

Spring or summer, while southernwood-leaved pelargonium 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 southernwood-leaved pelargonium

Repot dry. Do not water southernwood-leaved pelargonium 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 very free-draining, gritty or sandy loam, ph 6.0-7.0 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 southernwood-leaved pelargonium 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 southernwood-leaved pelargonium 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 southernwood-leaved pelargonium

Southernwood-leaved Pelargonium wants very free-draining, gritty or sandy loam, ph 6.0-7.0. Use a lean, sharply draining compost — a standard loam-based mix with 40% coarse grit or perlite is suitable. This species is native to dry rocky scrub and resents any degree of sustained moisture around its roots. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting southernwood-leaved pelargonium — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot southernwood-leaved pelargonium?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for southernwood-leaved pelargonium. Repot southernwood-leaved pelargonium every 2–3 years into a snug pot of very free-draining, gritty or sandy loam, ph 6.0-7.0, 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 southernwood-leaved pelargonium need?

When is the best time of year to repot southernwood-leaved pelargonium?

Should you water southernwood-leaved pelargonium after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot southernwood-leaved pelargonium 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 southernwood-leaved pelargonium after repotting?

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