Repotting guide

When & how to repot Variegated Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea 'Variegata')

Also called Variegated Ground Ivy, Variegated Creeping Charlie, Variegated Gill-over-the-Ground.

More about variegated ground ivy

About Variegated Ground Ivy

Glechoma hederacea 'Variegata' · also called Variegated Ground Ivy, Variegated Creeping Charlie · herb

A cultivar of ground ivy selected for heart-shaped leaves edged in creamy white, offering decorative trailing growth in containers and hanging baskets. Less aggressive than the green species. Small lavender flowers appear in spring. Aromatic when crushed. Best grown where its spread can be contained; mildly caution warranted around browsing pets.

Mature size: 5–10 cm tall; trailing stems to 60–90 cm in containers

Watch for — Root rot: Overwatering or poorly draining containers cause stems to blacken and collapse at the base. Allow the top of the compost to dry slightly between waterings and ensure pots have drainage holes.

How to tell variegated ground ivy needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For variegated ground ivy, watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot variegated ground ivy on before it becomes hard root-bound.

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 variegated ground ivy

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Variegated Ground Ivyis grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Trailing, mat-forming perennial with rooting stolons. Less vigorous than the species but still spreads readily. Particularly effective as a cascading plant in mixed containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets..

What size pot to step variegated ground ivy up to

Pot variegated ground ivy on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

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 variegated ground ivy

Pot variegated ground ivy on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting variegated ground ivy

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check variegated ground ivy regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh moderately fertile, moist, well-drained loam or multi-purpose potting mix at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water variegated ground ivy in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for variegated ground ivy

Variegated Ground Ivy wants moderately fertile, moist, well-drained loam or multi-purpose potting mix. Any reasonably fertile, humus-rich mix works well. For container growing, use a quality multi-purpose compost with 20% perlite. Avoid compacted or waterlogged soil. pH 6.0–7.0 is ideal. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting variegated ground ivy — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot variegated ground ivy?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for variegated ground ivy. Variegated Ground Ivy is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into moderately fertile, moist, well-drained loam or multi-purpose potting mix so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does variegated ground ivy need?

When is the best time of year to repot variegated ground ivy?

Can you put variegated ground ivy straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing variegated ground ivy should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise variegated ground ivy after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting variegated ground ivy. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.