Some of my indoor plants are long time family members, with names and stories to tell. My oldest, a pony tail palm- Beaucarnea recurvata, has been with me since college. All of my house plants spend their summer outdoors, and I’m convinced that is a major contributor to their on-going vigor and health.

One of my typical spring and summer garden activities is to re-pot tropicals, bonsai, or seasonal plantings. Especially by late summer all of that work has usually been taken care of. But this year I still have a few left to do, and will also be replanting container gardens with fall beauties soon.

If plants are very pot-bound and are drying out frequently their care indoors will be a bit more intensive. Repotting reduces watering needs and thereby simplifies routine maintenance. That may seem pretty straight forward, but I’ve developed some handy strategies that have proven useful over time.

TIPS & TRICKS

• Remove plants from pots carefully so that pot or plant is not damaged. If the plant is tight in the pot you may need to run a knife around the perimeter to loosen. Pull out of pot gently. If re-using the pot clean it thoroughly.
• If roots are dense, use a root hook or rake to loosen. Roots can be pruned if very long or circling the pot.
• Pot should have a proportional drainage hole. Add a layer of pebbles to the bottom to insure good drainage.
• If using a clay pot, submerge it in water to pre-soak. Terracotta is porous, and otherwise will wick water away from plants.
• If planting very large containers, I use Styrofoam packing “peanuts” to fill a up to one third of the pot. This reduces weight and the volume of soil required. I arrange used dryer sheets on top of the peanuts . This keeps the soil from falling into the peanuts.*
• On top of the pebbles or peanuts add a layer of soil (see “Green Your Interior w/ Plants… part 2 for soil recommendations and amendments.)
• Add the plant to the pot, positioning generally in the center. Check the finished height of the root ball to be sure there is room to water the plant without overflow.
• Add soil around the outside perimeter of the plant. Usually it is best to leave the soil fairly loose and let your weekly watering and gravity do the compaction.
• Water the plant thoroughly, adding a liquid starter fertilizer if desired. Let it drain and position it in it’s new home.

ENJOY YOUR NEW PLANT!

* This technique is especially good for large scale exterior containers. Styrofoam peanuts must not be the new cellulose type as they melt and biodegrade. They are an awesome “green” alternative for packing but not good for planters.

Related posts:

“GREEN” YOUR INTERIOR WITH PLANTS… part 1 “GREEN” YOUR INTERIOR WITH PLANTS… part 2- Your New Green Thumb “GREEN” YOUR INTERIORS WITH PLANTS… part 4 Bring ’em inside!