REPOTTING

Plants usually don't need repotting when you first buy them, and they generally should stay in the same pot longer than many people expect. It's important to know when to repot, what kind of pot and soil to use, and how to do the job right.

Choose the Right Kind of Pot

Select a pot that is appropriate for the plant you have. Pots are made of many different materials, and they are all … well, different.

Clay pots dry out rapidly as they are very porous. They should be thoroughly soaked in water before use so that they do not immediately absorb all the moisture from the soil when the plant is potted. I prefer to use clay pots for cacti, succulents, and other plants that should be kept on the dry side.

Glazed pots retain moisture and are suitable for plants requiring more moisture. If there is no drainage hole, add a layer of charcoal (about 1-inch deep) in the bottom of the container to provide drainage and to keep the soil and standing water from souring.

Plastic pots are inexpensive, lightweight, and readily available. They hold moisture in, so they too are best for plants requiring more moisture in the soil.

Styrofoam™ pots are less porous than clay but more porous than plastic, so they are ideal for a variety of houseplants.

Wood containers, wicker baskets, and other planters make attractive decorative pots. Usually it is best to use this type of container as a jardinière or cachepot, planting in an inner pot of Styrofoam, plastic, or clay. If wood containers are used for direct planting, they should be treated with a wood preservative to be rot-resistant.

When you set a nursery can into a decorative container, use top-dressing to give the appearance that the plant is actually planted in the decorative pot. You can use Spanish or floral moss to cover the pot rim and still allow easy access to the soil. Fluff the moss and spread it thinly to keep good air circulation to the soil. Other choices for top-dressing include decorative gravel or rocks and wood chips. Wood chips are the least desirable because they disintegrate over time and have to be replaced.

Select the Right Size Pot

It’s important to choose the proper size container. A general rule of thumb is that the pot should be 1/5 to 1/3 the size of the plant.

For flat-growing plants (such as African violets) the diameter of the pot should be 1/3 the diameter of the plant. An African violet with a diameter of 6 inches should be in a 2–inch-diameter pot. For tall-growing plants (such as ficus) the diameter of the pot should be about 1/5 the height of the plant. A 5-foot-tall ficus tree should be in 10-inch-to-12-inch-diameter pot.

You should generally not move a plant into a pot more than 1 inch to 2 inches larger than its previous pot. You would move an African violet from a 2-inch pot to a 2 1/2-inch pot or a ficus tree from a 10-inch pot to a 12-inch pot. The only exception to this rule is if the plant has been neglected and is extremely root-bound. For example, a 6-foot-tall ficus tree in an 8-inch pot with roots growing out the bottom of the pot can safely be transferred to a 12-inch container.

Protect Your Home as well as Your Plants

When choosing a pot, be sure you are using a container that will make it easy for you to water the plant without damaging your furniture or floor.

Pots with drainage holes are best for your plants. Most people find it difficult to water their plants properly in containers without these holes.

However, you don't want water and dirt running out of the pot and making a mess or causing damage. Therefore, be sure each pot with drainage holes has a watertight saucer beneath it. Since clay pots are porous, clay saucers are not watertight. If you use a clay pot, don't depend on a clay saucer. If you like the look of the clay saucer, line it with a clear plastic saucer to catch the water.

If you put a functional pot inside a basket or similar decorative container, be sure to line the basket with several layers of heavy-duty plastic or a deep plastic saucer. Otherwise, you risk finding the basket rotted and the carpet stained.

You can camouflage the saucer, but be sure it's there to catch the drips and protect your home.

Repot Correctly

■ Follow These Techniques

Always use clean, sterile pots. If you are reusing an old pot, soak it overnight in a strong bleach solution.

I like to carry plants outside and repot on a shady table in the back yard. Then I can hose down the area to wash away spilled soil.

Cover the drainage hole with a piece of broken clay pottery or a soft drink bottle cap (upside down) to allow the water to drain out without washing away soil. If there is no drainage, put a 1-inch layer of charcoal on the bottom of the pot.

Fill in the bottom and sides of the pot with soil, and then add the plant with its root ball intact into the cavity you have created. Never disturb the root ball unless there is a problem with the plant (such as soil insects or waterlogged soil). Fill in around the root ball with fresh soil and tamp it down gently but thoroughly. Then clean the pot and foliage.

■ Use an Appropriate Potting Mix

Always use a soil or potting mix that has been sterilized – most packaged potting mixes are sterile. You are asking for trouble if you use yard dirt in your pot plants.

There are many good all-purpose potting mixes on the market – most of which don't even include any real soil. Potting mix is usually made up of perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, and other organic materials. Special mixes should be used for specific plants such as African violets or cacti. Avoid any soil that is heavy and cakes or packs. This will lock up the roots of your plants and prevent them from getting proper moisture and nutrients.

Again, avoid using yard dirt – not only is it non-sterile, but it is also usually too heavy for pot plants.

■ Repot Only When Needed

Smaller plants should be repotted every 6 to 12 months until mature. For larger plants, it usually isn't necessary to repot, but the soil should be freshened every 2 years. Remove the top layer of soil and replace it with fresh soil. Work the new soil down into the pot, loosening up the older soil.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Just as we humans need a particular type of environment to live, so do plants. The proper light, temperature, and humidity are necessary for success with houseplants.

Light

■ Plants' Need for Light

All plants need light to live; they process their nourishment by photosynthesis, which depends upon light.

Plants vary greatly in their need for light, ranging from direct sun to shade. Most plants require something between the two extremes.

Few plants can tolerate direct sun, and even a shady location must have enough light to create a shadow with your hand. Contrary to popular opinion, even so-called "closet plants" must have light. Plants that survive in low light still need some light.

As a general rule, solid-green plants require less light than variegated plants (plants with white or other colors in the leaves). Foliage plants (those that don't flower) require less light than blooming plants. Most flowering plants do not do well in typical household light. Choose plants appropriate for the light you have.

If you have a spot with very low light, it's advisable to rotate plants from this location to a spot where they get better light. You can keep one plant in better light much of the time and put it into the darker spot only when you're expecting guests. Or you may have two plants that will survive in low light – keep one in a brighter spot for a while, then move it to the dimmer area and switch the plant that's been in the darker area to the brighter location.

■ Artificial Light

Natural light can be supplemented by artificial light. Fluorescent light is better for plants than incandescent light because fluorescent gives off more light and less heat per watt. Incandescent light can be used effectively as a supplement to natural light if it isn't placed too close to the plant.

Fluorescent light (about 12 inches above the tops of the plants) can be used exclusively as the light source if burned 10 to 14 hours per day, with the tubes changed annually. This provides the same light intensity year round and eliminates the seasonal differences that would be experienced with natural light. African violets are often grown exclusively under fluorescent light. You can buy or build lighted plant stands that display your collection attractively while giving the plants the light they need.

Although you can maintain plants in low light, don't expect plants to grow much under these conditions. If you want your plants to grow, give them plenty of light.

Temperature and Humidity

Most plants do well at a temperature of 60 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which, fortunately, is also the temperature people like best. It is wise to avoid plants requiring extreme cool or extreme warmth unless you can provide these extreme temperatures in your home.

Most plants, except cacti, need more humidity than is found in the average home. Air conditioning and heating dry the air considerably. You may wish to add a humidifier to make the atmosphere more comfortable for both you and your plants.

If this isn't feasible, plants will benefit from being grouped together so they can share the moisture they all give off. You can group the plants in a tray or pan filled with gravel. Set the pots on the gravel and keep water in the tray below the level of the gravel. As the water evaporates, it adds humidity to the air for the plants to enjoy. Be sure the bottoms of the pots don't sit in the water or the soil will become too wet.

You can temporarily increase the humidity by misting (spraying with water) your plants. Mist several times a day if your home is very dry; be sure to spray water over the entire plant.

When misting, use hot water – it will cool off to warm by the time it hits the plants. They can absorb warm water better than cold, and warm water won't shock the plants. Misting a plant with cold water is like stepping into a cold shower! Warm water will not cause water spots as cold water can. This is the reason some people advise against misting hairy-leaved plants such as African violets. However, these plants benefit greatly from misting with warm water.

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