Repotting Guide · Mid Spring
April is peak season across the board — arguably the single best repotting month of the year. Deciduous trees are finishing, conifers hit their stride, and the desert plants swing fully into growth. If you only repot once a year, this is the month most of your collection will thank you for.
What to repot in AprilAcross all four families we grow for — timing depends on watching your plant, not just the date.
Outdoor & Temperate Bonsai
Finish deciduous repotting early in the month, then turn to conifers. Repot pines (Pinus thunbergii, Japanese black pine) and junipers as candles and shoots emerge soft and pale — typically now in zones 5–8. Spruce and other conifers follow the same soft-new-growth cue.
Tropicals & Tropical Bonsai
Warmth is returning and tropicals are growing strongly — an excellent time to repot ficus, schefflera, and dwarf jade. Give them a warm, bright spot and they will root into fresh mix quickly.
Cacti
April is the classic best month to repot cacti, just as they swing into summer growth. Step up Mammillaria, Echinopsis, and barrel types one size, settle them in dry, and wait several days before the first watering.
Succulents
Prime time. Repot and propagate freely — Echeveria, Graptopetalum, Sedum, and Aloe all establish fast now. Leaf and offset cuttings taken this month root readily in gritty mix.
Timing by USDA zone
Spring runs later as you go colder and earlier as you go warmer — shift the calendar to match your climate.
Main deciduous window opens now; hold tender plants until nights warm.
Conifers and tropicals in full swing; finish deciduous.
Move quickly — heat is building; protect fresh repots from midday sun.
🌱 Tip of the month
After repotting a cactus, wait five to seven days before watering. Cut roots need time to callus, and dry soil in that window is your best insurance against rot.
✨ Fun fact
Pumice — a key ingredient in well-draining mixes — is volcanic glass so full of gas bubbles it can actually float on water. Those pores are what hold air and moisture around your roots.
Soil for this month
Everything above drains fast and breathes — exactly what these plants want at repotting time.
A note on timing: plants don't read calendars. Use these months as a guide, but let the plant make the final call — repot deciduous trees as buds crack, conifers as new growth softens, and tender plants only while they're in active growth. Always step up just one pot size and match the mix to the plant.