Repotting guide

When & how to repot Turkish Catmint (Nepeta phyllochlamys)

Also called Turkish Catmint.

More about turkish catmint

About Turkish Catmint

Nepeta phyllochlamys · also called Turkish Catmint · flowering

Turkish Catmint is a rare, compact species endemic to a small area of northwestern Turkey. It forms low, silver-grey mounds of woolly, aromatic foliage topped with pale lavender-blue flowers in summer. Well-suited to rock gardens, raised beds, and gravel plantings, it demands perfect drainage and full sun, and is intolerant of winter wet.

Mature size: 15–25 cm tall, 25–40 cm wide

How to tell turkish catmint needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For turkish catmint, 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 turkish catmint

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Turkish Catmint's growth habit — low, compact, cushion-forming subshrub — sets the pace. Turkish Catmint is a rare, compact species endemic to a small area of northwestern Turkey. It forms low, silver-grey mounds of woolly, aromatic foliage topped with pale lavender-blue flowers in summer. Well-suited to rock gardens, raised beds, and gravel plantings, it demands perfect drainage and full sun, and is intolerant of winter wet.

What size pot to step turkish catmint up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Turkish Catmint 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 turkish catmint

Spring or summer, while turkish catmint 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 turkish catmint

Repot dry. Do not water turkish catmint 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 gritty, sharply drained alkaline soil 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 turkish catmint 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 turkish catmint 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 turkish catmint

Turkish Catmint wants gritty, sharply drained alkaline soil. Prefers poor, stony, calcareous soil (pH 7.0–8.5). Use a 50:50 mix of loam-based compost and coarse horticultural grit for containers. Never use peat-based or moisture-retentive mixes. A layer of grit around the crown deters rot. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting turkish catmint — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot turkish catmint?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for turkish catmint. Repot turkish catmint every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, sharply drained alkaline soil, 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 turkish catmint need?

When is the best time of year to repot turkish catmint?

Should you water turkish catmint after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot turkish catmint 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 turkish catmint after repotting?

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