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 your houseplant and what do you have to consider?
When should you repot the lucky chestnut?
The lucky chestnut should be repotted every three years, preferably in early spring. An indicator for repotting is depleted soil that no longer stores irrigation water. After purchasing, separate braided lucky chestnuts and transplant them individually into fresh substrate.
When is repotting the lucky chestnut scheduled?
It takes time for the root ball to grow out of a suitable pot. However, over time the substrate leaches out and no longer contains any nutrients. A sure sign of depleted soil is when the irrigation water simply runs through and is no longer stored.
Now you should think about repotting the lucky chestnut. As a rule, it is enough 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.
Repotting the lucky chestnut
- Fill new pot with substrate
- Carefully unpot the lucky chestnut
- maybe. Prune roots slightly
- 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 a 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 stone, repotting is not necessary.
Repot braided lucky chestnuts immediately after purchase
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 purchasing them and transplant them individually into fresh substrate and a sufficiently large pot.
Braided lucky chestnuts may 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 ensure stability of the braided trunks at the bottom and directly below the crown.
Tip
Lucky chestnuts are not very demanding and also grow in normal potting soil (€10.00 on Amazon). Loosen the substrate with sand or gravel to prevent waterlogging. You should also create a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.