
By Lena Moss
Hi plant lovers 🌿 I’m Lena Moss, your fellow indoor jungle enthusiast, and today I’ve got a game-changing find for all of you trying to tend to your succulents without turning your kitchen table into a potting disaster. If you’ve ever searched (or desperately Googled) “What is the best succulent repotting kit for beginners in small apartments?”—you’re in exactly the right spot.
Let’s be real. Taking care of indoor plants should be relaxing, not a clean-up nightmare. Living in a small apartment comes with its own plant-parenting hurdles: no backyard, limited storage, tight windowsills, and definitely no garage workbench. That’s why I’m seriously excited to share the Josteve Plant Repotting Kit with you today—the ultimate beginner-friendly tool for keeping your succulents snug, healthy, and your counters clean.
Let me walk you through why this compact kit has a permanent spot in my apartment garden kit.
Why Succulent Care Needs Special Tools — Especially Indoors
If you’re new to succulents, you might not realize just how finicky these little cuties can be. They hate overwatering, despise compression around their roots, and freak out with the wrong tools.
Traditional gardening tools are too bulky. Reusing silverware from your kitchen stand doesn’t cut it (yes, I’ve been there). And trying to pot a tiny echeveria on an old magazine spread across your rug? Disaster.
What’s the fix? A dedicated, mess-free repotting station that fits in your tiny space. And that’s where the Josteve Repotting Kit shines.
Introducing the Josteve Succulent Repotting Kit
I found the Josteve Plant Repotting Mat Kit while on a mission to tame my windowsill jungle. It’s marketed as a “Mini Garden Tool Kit,” but honestly—it’s surprisingly robust for what it is.
Here’s what you get in one Amazon-friendly bundle for under $10:
- 1 foldable waterproof repotting mat
- 1 pruning shear (perfect for snipping dry leaves and stems)
- 3 stainless steel mini tools: spade, rake, and shovel
- 1 soft carry/storage bag
That’s all the gear you need to transplant seedlings, clean old pots, or trim roots—without creating a complete mess on your floor.
Why This Kit Works for Apartment Dwellers
For small-space gardeners, the key is storage, convenience, and clean-up. The Josteve kit delivers on all three fronts.
- No more soil on countertops: The waterproof mat catches every crumb of dirt and stray succulent leaf.
- Easy fold-and-stash design: It rolls up to fit in a kitchen drawer or bookshelf.
- Everything in one bundle: No hunting for lost tools. No random spoons doubling as shovels.
I use mine right on my kitchen island, then fold it, rinse it under the sink, and tuck it neatly back under my bookshelf planter. 🌱💪🏻
Let’s Talk Tools: Quality vs. Price
I’ll admit, I didn’t expect much at a $9.99 price point. But the durability genuinely surprised me—especially the stainless steel heads on the tools. I’ve used flimsy plastic garden sets before and had more than one mini rake snap on me mid-use. These tools hold up.
The pruning shears are sharp enough for light-duty trimming, and the size is perfect for small-potted succulents or starter bonsais. I did read some reviews on Amazon that mention they’re not heavy-duty enough for larger plants—and I agree—but for small houseplants? They’re gold.
Who This Kit is Perfect For
If you’re any of the below, this might be your new favorite garden find:
- 📍 You live in a dorm, studio, apartment, or shared space
- 🪴 You have fewer than 20 indoor plants and most live on shelves, desks, or windowsills
- 🌵 Your plant choices include succulents, cacti, bonsai trees, or mini tropicals
- 📦 You need something portable and easy to store
- 💰 You’re budget-conscious but prefer not to sacrifice functionality
Compare It With The Others
I did a deep dive on similar kits like the Arber Repotting Mat and Fiskars Indoor Pruner Sets. Here’s how the Josteve kit stacks up:
- Price: Way more affordable (under $10 vs others costing $20+)
- Portability: Better foldability and storage than the chunkier Fiskars
- Design: Not as pretty as Etsy’s custom mats, but more functional with included tools
- Use Case: Designed specifically with succulents and small plants in mind
According to a Modern Farmer roundup on indoor gardening tools, beginner gardeners often overspend on gear they use once or twice. That’s why affordable multifunctional kits like this are gaining popularity—they help you learn without the financial jump scare.
How to Use the Josteve Repotting Kit in a Tiny Space
Here’s how I re-pot a succulent in my 600-square-foot apartment using this kit:
- Clear off a table or windowsill.
- Snap open the waterproof mat (it has snaps in the corners to keep dirt from sliding off).
- Use the rake to loosen old soil around your plant.
- Slip the spade under your succulent gently. Lift it out.
- Prune roots and dead leaves with the shears.
- Set the plant into a new pot using the shovel to support soil placement.
- Fold up any excess soil in the mat and pour it back into your soil bag.
- Rinse the mat, dry it, and put everything back into the provided pouch.
You’re done—in under 10 minutes—with no need to scrub your table.

My Honest Take on Cons
No product is perfect, right?
💭 Here’s what could be better:
- The tools are awesome for small plants but won’t work on anything bigger than a 6-inch pot.
- The mat is thin—not flimsy, but not a luxury item either.
- If you’re ultra style-oriented, it doesn’t have the cute/patterned aesthetic some decorative Etsy mats offer.
That said? For the utility and the price—it’s still a massive win.
Why It’s a GREAT Gift for New Plant Parents
Let’s be honest, gifting plants is great—but how about gifting the gear that actually helps keep them alive?
This little tool kit has become my go-to “welcome to plant parenthood” gift. I’ve paired it with a jade plant, a loveable string of pearls, and even an air plant in a cute ceramic pot. Wrap the kit in tissue paper and you’re the friend everyone turns to for gardening advice.
Final Thoughts: Do You Need the Josteve Kit?
If you’re overwhelmed by gardening tools or worried your tiny apartment can’t handle your growing plant family, this kit is 100% worth trying. It’s budget-friendly, highly functional, and makes plant care less of a juggling act.
This isn’t just a kit—it’s an upgrade to your lifestyle as a plant caretaker.
So if you’re:
- Repotting with newspaper and a spoon 🍽️
- Scooping soil with your hands 😬
- Battling plant care messes in a space with no surface to spare
Then yes—this repotting kit is exactly what you need.
Thanks for letting me crash your scroll session. Until next time—keep your roots happy and your counters clean!
Happy planting,
—Lena 🌵💚