Potting / re-potting plants

The basics

Clay pots, I think, look prettier, weather down nicely and are easier to keep well watered because of their porous nature.

‘Crocks’ tend to be bits of old, broken pots.  A single layer of crocks placed in the bottom of a pot before planting aids drainage, an important part of maintaining healthy plants.

Potting compost - a sterile mix of peat, vermiculite, perlite and soil conditioners that provide plants with nutrients, adequate drainage and aeration.  (Local natural soil could be used but ideally should be heat sterilised at 200F for at least 30 minutes in order to stop the spread of any harmful bacteria).

Plant food / fertiliser - plants in the closed environment of a pot occasionally need extra nutrients to aid growth.  How regularly they are used and the strength of solution depends upon the plant and time of year.  Plants follow a cycle of growth and rest so feeding them all year long is unnecessary.

The crown of the plant - The crown of the plant is where the stem meets the roots.  Most plants are planted so that the crown is at soil level.  Burying the crown below soil level can lead to the stem rotting and the plant dying.

HOW TO RE-POT

Get a pot that is one size larger than the container your plant is currently in (sizes are measured as the diameter of the pot’s upper rim).

Put a layer of crocks in the bottom of your new pot, then a layer of potting compost – remember, the aim is to keep the crown of your re-potted plant at soil level.

Take the plant you want to re-pot.  Slot your fingers, palm side down around the stem of your plant and turn it upside down, so that it is now sitting on the palm of your hand.  Gently tap the bottom of the up-turned pot and the plant should now easily slide out.

Put it in its new container and fill in the empty sides with potting compost.  Press down gently and continue to fill until the soil level is at the same level as the plant’s crown.

Water well.