Repotting guide

When & how to repot Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleyanum)

Also called Strawberry guava, Cattley guava, Cherry guava.

More about strawberry guava

About Strawberry Guava

Psidium cattleyanum · also called Strawberry guava, Cattley guava · tropical

Strawberry guava is a compact evergreen shrub or small tree from Brazil bearing small red (or yellow) berries with a strawberry-like flavour. Slightly hardier than common guava and very ornamental, with glossy leaves and smooth bark, it suits containers and patios. It is highly invasive in tropical regions, so contain it where it can naturalise.

Mature size: Commonly 2-4 m (6-13 ft) tall in cultivation, occasionally to 6 m; readily kept at 1.5-2 m by pruning or in pots.

How to tell strawberry guava needs repotting

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

Thick roots out of the drainage holes, or circling the surface and lifting the plant.
The pot dries out unusually fast and strawberry guava wilts between waterings it used to shrug off.
The plant is visibly top-heavy and tips over easily.
Stalled growth and small new leaves over a full season — though with a big specimen, top-dressing is often the better first response before a full repot.

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 strawberry guava

Every 2–3 years; top-dress in the in-between years. Strawberry Guava's growth habit — a dense, bushy evergreen shrub or small multi-stemmed tree with smooth grey-brown peeling bark and glossy, leathery leaves; naturally compact and easy to keep as a hedge or container specimen. — sets the pace. Strawberry guava is a compact evergreen shrub or small tree from Brazil bearing small red (or yellow) berries with a strawberry-like flavour. Slightly hardier than common guava and very ornamental, with glossy leaves and smooth bark, it suits containers and patios. It is highly invasive in tropical regions, so contain it where it can naturalise.

What size pot to step strawberry guava up to

Move up exactly one pot size. A heavy strawberry guava dropped into a vastly bigger pot sits in a reservoir of wet soil its roots cannot reach, which rots them and destabilises the plant. In the years between repots, lift off and replace the top 3–5 cm of soil (top-dressing) instead — it refreshes nutrients without the shock of a full repot.

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 strawberry guava

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for strawberry guava. 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 strawberry guava

Consider top-dressing first. If strawberry guava is not badly root-bound, scrape off and replace the top 3–5 cm of soil instead — far less shock for a big plant that hates moving.
Get help and one size up. For a full repot, choose a pot just one size larger. A heavy plant needs two people and a stable, free-draining pot.
Ease it out on its side. Lay the plant down, slide the pot off, and gently loosen the outer roots. Do not bare-root a mature specimen.
Repot at the same depth. Add fresh well-drained loam to sandy loam beneath and around the rootball, keeping the original soil line. Firm it so the trunk is stable and upright.
Water and leave it put. Water thoroughly, then leave strawberry guava in the same spot and light — moving and repotting at once is what makes it drop leaves.

Aftercare

Leave strawberry guava in exactly the same spot and light it was in before — moving and repotting at the same time is what makes a big specimen drop leaves. Water it in well, then let the top of the soil dry before watering again so the larger volume of fresh soil does not stay sodden. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for strawberry guava

Strawberry Guava wants well-drained loam to sandy loam. Adaptable to a range of soils including sandy and rocky ground; favours fertile, well-drained loam with pH around 5.5-7.0. Excellent drainage is the key requirement in pots and in the ground. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting strawberry guava — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot strawberry guava?

Every 2–3 years; top-dress in the in-between years for strawberry guava. Fully repot strawberry guava only every 2–3 years; in the in-between years just top-dress the top 3–5 cm of soil. Step up one pot size in spring with well-drained loam to sandy loam. It is heavy and hates being moved, and a vastly oversized pot holds water against the roots and rots them.

What size pot does strawberry guava need?

When is the best time of year to repot strawberry guava?

Should you top-dress or fully repot strawberry guava?

For a big, heavy strawberry guava, top-dressing — replacing the top 3–5 cm of soil — is the gentler option most years, with a full repot only every 2–3 years. A mature specimen sulks and drops leaves when fully repotted, so do it as rarely as the roots allow.

Should you fertilise strawberry guava after repotting?

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