Repotting guide

When & how to repot Wood's Cotyledon (Cotyledon woodii)

Also called Wood's Cotyledon, Woody Cotyledon.

More about wood's cotyledon

About Wood's Cotyledon

Cotyledon woodii · also called Wood's Cotyledon, Woody Cotyledon · houseplant

Wood's Cotyledon is a slender-stemmed South African cliff-dweller with small, fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves neatly arranged on trailing or pendant stems. It is particularly valued as a hanging-basket succulent, producing pendulous orange tubular flowers in summer. Drought-tolerant and compact, it thrives with minimal fuss in a bright, airy spot.

Mature size: Stems trail to 30–50 cm (12–20 in); overall spread depends on container size.

How to tell wood's cotyledon needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For wood's cotyledon, 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 wood's cotyledon

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Wood's Cotyledon's growth habit — trailing or pendant subshrub with thin wiry stems; well-suited to hanging baskets. — sets the pace. Wood's Cotyledon is a slender-stemmed South African cliff-dweller with small, fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves neatly arranged on trailing or pendant stems. It is particularly valued as a hanging-basket succulent, producing pendulous orange tubular flowers in summer. Drought-tolerant and compact, it thrives with minimal fuss in a bright, airy spot.

What size pot to step wood's cotyledon up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Wood's Cotyledon 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 wood's cotyledon

Spring or summer, while wood's cotyledon 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 wood's cotyledon

Repot dry. Do not water wood's cotyledon 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 lean gritty 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 wood's cotyledon 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 wood's cotyledon 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 wood's cotyledon

Wood's Cotyledon wants lean gritty succulent mix. A 50:50 blend of cactus compost and perlite works well. Good drainage is essential. The trailing growth habit makes shallow hanging baskets or tall containers with drainage holes especially suitable. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting wood's cotyledon — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot wood's cotyledon?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for wood's cotyledon. Repot wood's cotyledon every 2–3 years into a snug pot of lean gritty 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 wood's cotyledon need?

When is the best time of year to repot wood's cotyledon?

Should you water wood's cotyledon after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot wood's cotyledon 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 wood's cotyledon after repotting?

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