Repotting guide

When & how to repot Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis)

Also called Teddy Bear Vine, Teddy Bear Plant, Brown Spiderwort.

More about teddy bear vine

About Teddy Bear Vine

Cyanotis kewensis · also called Teddy Bear Vine, Teddy Bear Plant · houseplant

A distinctive trailing houseplant from southern India with teardrop-shaped fleshy leaves clothed in dense chocolate-brown hairs, giving the plant its irresistible teddy-bear texture. Suitable for hanging baskets in bright indirect light, it requires well-draining soil, moderate watering, and grows actively year-round without a true dormant period.

Mature size: Trailing stems 20–45 cm long; individual leaves 2–4 cm long

Watch for — Leggy, sparse growth in low light: Insufficient light causes elongated internodes and loss of the dense, compact growth habit that gives the plant its appeal. Move to a brighter window; pruning leggy stems back to a healthy node encourages fresh bushy growth.

How to tell teddy bear vine needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For teddy bear vine, 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 teddy bear vine

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Teddy Bear Vine's growth habit — low, trailing or spreading perennial; stems cascade naturally making it well-suited for hanging baskets and shelf edges — sets the pace. A distinctive trailing houseplant from southern India with teardrop-shaped fleshy leaves clothed in dense chocolate-brown hairs, giving the plant its irresistible teddy-bear texture. Suitable for hanging baskets in bright indirect light, it requires well-draining soil, moderate watering, and grows actively year-round without a true dormant period.

What size pot to step teddy bear vine up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Teddy Bear Vine 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 teddy bear vine

Spring or summer, while teddy bear vine 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 teddy bear vine

Repot dry. Do not water teddy bear vine 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 well-draining houseplant or succulent mix 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 teddy bear vine 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 teddy bear vine 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 teddy bear vine

Teddy Bear Vine wants well-draining houseplant or succulent mix. A high-quality succulent potting mix, or a standard houseplant compost amended with 25–30% perlite or coarse grit, provides the drainage and moderate fertility this species needs. Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting teddy bear vine — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot teddy bear vine?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for teddy bear vine. Repot teddy bear vine every 2–3 years into a snug pot of well-draining houseplant or succulent mix, 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 teddy bear vine need?

When is the best time of year to repot teddy bear vine?

Should you water teddy bear vine after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot teddy bear vine 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 teddy bear vine after repotting?

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