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When these things happen to succulents, they grow plump and happy after repotting

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Almost all flower growers love succulents, and most succulents are well-behaved and very cute. That is why so many people like growing succulents, but succulents are rather picky about their living conditions, for example when it comes to repotting. Anyone who has grown succulents knows that...

Almost all flower growers love succulents, and most succulents are well-behaved and very cute. That is why so many people like growing succulents, but succulents are rather picky about their living conditions, for example when it comes to repotting. Anyone who has grown succulents knows that succulents need frequent repotting, so in which situations can you repot a succulent?

If you notice that a succulent you are growing clearly stops growing for a long period of time, then you should consider transplanting it. Succulents whose roots have rotted, or whose soil has developed bugs or other unhealthy conditions, also need transplanting. The most distinctive trait of succulents is that the bigger the pot, the bigger the plant. After repotting, succulents grow rapidly. For a succulent in good growing condition and with a healthy plant body, you can repot it together with its original soil when repotting, without changing the soil, so the succulent does not have to go through the process of adjusting to a new pot.

There is technique to transplanting succulents too. Generally, after one year of cultivation the nutrients in the pot tend to run out, the soil becomes compacted with poor aeration and drainage, and the plant's roots have filled the pot again, so repotting is needed. Squeeze the pot with your hands and tip the whole plant out together with the soil. If you cannot get it out, tap the pot wall with a rubber mallet and take it out once the soil in the pot loosens.

Repotting is usually done in spring and autumn, because that is the growing season for most succulents and they adjust to a new pot more easily. The first step in repotting is to prepare new soil. Whether it is a newly bought succulent or one you have grown for a while, it is advisable to change some of the soil; even if you build on the old soil, add some new soil to boost fertility, and preferably use sterilized new soil. Next comes cleaning the roots. For this process we can rinse with clean water; generally, as long as the roots are not damaged, rinsing with clean water is the best method. Cleaning the roots is very important, because the roots may harbor a large amount of bacteria, fungi or insect eggs.

When replanting, be careful to spread out the original root system. This is very easy to do: first place the plant in the pot, then use a tool to fill in soil. Do not fill the pot to the brim and then force the plant in by hand. About 10 days after potting in dry soil, you can water it. There is one more thing to note: white mealybugs generally appear on the surface of succulents, while root mealybugs often appear in the soil and can only be seen by pulling out the succulent's root system. When a succulent stops growing or wilts, it is very likely that there are bugs.

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