Repotting guide

When & how to repot Trailing Rock Jasmine (Androsace lanuginosa)

Also called Trailing rock jasmine, Woolly rock jasmine, Lanuginose androsace.

More about trailing rock jasmine

About Trailing Rock Jasmine

Androsace lanuginosa · also called Trailing rock jasmine, Woolly rock jasmine · flowering

Androsace lanuginosa is a trailing, mat-forming evergreen perennial from the rocky slopes of the Himalayas in northern India and Nepal, forming loose mats of silvery-hairy ovate leaves to 45 cm wide. It bears rounded umbels of lilac-pink flowers with a pale or greenish eye on short stems in mid-summer to early autumn, and is the most free-flowering and garden-amenable Androsace species, holding an RHS Award of Garden Merit. Unlike most high-alpine Androsace, it tolerates slightly better moisture but still requires sharp drainage and is best kept dry overhead in winter. Androsace is not listed by the ASPCA; as no confirmed pet-safety data exists, treat it as mildly toxic and keep away from pets.

Mature size: 8–10 cm tall, 30–45 cm wide

How to tell trailing rock jasmine needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For trailing rock jasmine, 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 trailing rock jasmine

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Trailing Rock Jasmine's growth habit — trailing, mat-forming evergreen perennial spreading by elongated, leafy stems rooting at nodes. — sets the pace. Androsace lanuginosa is a trailing, mat-forming evergreen perennial from the rocky slopes of the Himalayas in northern India and Nepal, forming loose mats of silvery-hairy ovate leaves to 45 cm wide. It bears rounded umbels of lilac-pink flowers with a pale or greenish eye on short stems in mid-summer to early autumn, and is the most free-flowering and garden-amenable Androsace species, holding an RHS Award of Garden Merit. Unlike most high-alpine Androsace, it tolerates slightly better moisture but still requires sharp drainage and is best kept dry overhead in winter. Androsace is not listed by the ASPCA; as no confirmed pet-safety data exists, treat it as mildly toxic and keep away from pets.

What size pot to step trailing rock jasmine up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Trailing Rock Jasmine 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 trailing rock jasmine

Spring or summer, while trailing rock jasmine 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 trailing rock jasmine

Repot dry. Do not water trailing rock jasmine 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-drained gritty loam or alpine compost 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 trailing rock jasmine 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 trailing rock jasmine 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 trailing rock jasmine

Trailing Rock Jasmine wants well-drained gritty loam or alpine compost. Grow in sharply drained, moderately fertile soil enriched with leaf mould; plant in rock crevices, dry-stone walls, or raised beds where roots can seek cool, moist conditions beneath gritty surface. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting trailing rock jasmine — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot trailing rock jasmine?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for trailing rock jasmine. Repot trailing rock jasmine every 2–3 years into a snug pot of well-drained gritty loam or alpine compost, 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 trailing rock jasmine need?

When is the best time of year to repot trailing rock jasmine?

Should you water trailing rock jasmine after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot trailing rock jasmine 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 trailing rock jasmine after repotting?

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