The lucky chestnut, also called Pachira aquatica, is not one of the fast-growing plants. It will therefore take some time before the pot becomes too small. When is it time to repot the houseplant and what do you have to consider?

The lucky chestnut rarely needs to be repotted

When is repotting the lucky chestnut on the agenda?

It takes time for the root ball to grow out of a suitable pot. However, the substrate leaches out over time and no longer contains any nutrients. A sure sign of depleted soil is when the irrigation water just runs through and is no longer stored.

Now at the latest you should think about repotting the lucky chestnut. As a rule, it is sufficient to repot them every three years.

The best time to repot Pachira aquatica

Pachira aquatica is always repotted in early spring when the plant has finished its winter break.

Repot the lucky chestnut

  • Fill a new pot with substrate
  • Carefully unpot the lucky chestnut
  • prune the root slightly if necessary
  • Put the plant in the new pot
  • Press the substrate carefully
  • water thoroughly once
  • do not fertilize in the first few months afterwards

If you grow lucky chestnuts as bonsai, repot them every spring for the first few years. You can trim the root ball slightly. With the Hawaiian method of growing Pachira aquatica in lava rock, repotting is not necessary.

Repot braided lucky chestnuts immediately after purchase

Lucky chestnuts have a reputation for being very delicate and dying quickly. In most cases, however, it is simply because the plants are usually sold in multiple stems in pots that are too small. You should therefore separate new lucky chestnuts after buying them and transplant them individually into fresh substrate and a sufficiently large pot.

Braided lucky chestnuts look decorative, but they are very delicate. It is therefore advisable to carefully pull them apart and place them individually.

You should also remove the rubber bands, which usually provide stability for the braided stems at the bottom and just below the crown.

tips

Lucky chestnuts are not very demanding and grow well in normal potting soil. Loosen the substrate with sand or gravel to prevent waterlogging. You should also create a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.

Category:

Trees