Repotting guide

When & how to repot Window Plant (Fenestaria rhopalophylla)

Also called Window Plant, Baby Toes, White Baby Toes.

More about window plant

About Window Plant

Fenestaria rhopalophylla · also called Window Plant, Baby Toes · houseplant

Fenestaria rhopalophylla is the white-flowered counterpart to orange Baby Toes, producing dense clumps of club-shaped leaves with translucent, flat-topped windows. Native to Namibian desert sands, it photosynthesises below ground via internal light channels. White daisy flowers appear in autumn. It needs maximum sun and very infrequent water.

Mature size: 3–5 cm tall; clumps slowly spread to 10–18 cm across

How to tell window plant needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Window Plant's growth habit — clumping, stemless succulent forming tight cushions of erect, grey-green cylindrical leaves with flat, translucent windowed tips; offsets freely to expand colony size. — sets the pace. Fenestaria rhopalophylla is the white-flowered counterpart to orange Baby Toes, producing dense clumps of club-shaped leaves with translucent, flat-topped windows. Native to Namibian desert sands, it photosynthesises below ground via internal light channels. White daisy flowers appear in autumn. It needs maximum sun and very infrequent water.

What size pot to step window plant up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Window Plant 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 window plant

Spring or summer, while window plant 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 window plant

Repot dry. Do not water window plant 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 very sandy, fast-draining desert 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 window plant 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 window plant 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 window plant

Window Plant wants very sandy, fast-draining desert mix. Combine cactus compost with coarse quartz sand in a 1:2 (compost:sand) ratio. The goal is a mix that drains in seconds and has very low water retention. Shallow clay pots are preferable to deep plastic containers. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting window plant — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot window plant?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for window plant. Repot window plant every 2–3 years into a snug pot of very sandy, fast-draining desert 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 window plant need?

When is the best time of year to repot window plant?

Should you water window plant after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot window plant 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 window plant after repotting?

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