How To Pot A Plant: Gardening Tips

Start with clean, scrubbed pots–preferably sterilized–for better success with your plants. Coarse steel wool or metal scouring pads clean pots in a jiffy.


Pot Cleaning Tips:

* Most harmful organisms can be killed by placing a stack of pots on a cloth under the hot-water faucet and running hot water slowly into the top pot for five minutes.
* Another option is this quick recipe for cleaning pots: 50/50 water and vinegar solution. Works well on both plastic and clay containers.


Getting Ready To Plant:

In planting, place a piece of broken crockery over the hole in the bottom of the pot and cover with a handful of soil (you can use a few small stones instead of crockery pieces). The idea is to allow water to drain (instead of being trapped in the pot) without losing soil. Placing a piece of broken crockery or a few rocks will provide filtered drainage.


How To Pot A Plant:

* Hold the plant in the pot with its crown just below the rim and spread the roots out evenly.
* Fill the pot gradually with soil, and firm it, without packing, as each handful is put in.
* Final soil level should be at least 1/4 inch below the pot rim to allow for easier watering.
* You can mix your own organic potting soil, see recipes here: Make Your Own Organic Potting Soil.



Repotting Plants:

In repotting plants, remove as much old soil as possible from roots, particularly from the top of soil ball, disturbing roots as little as possible. Use a pot proportionate in size to the plant. Plants should be shifted to bigger pots as they grow larger.


Consider The Container:

* Unglazed clay pots provide ideal growing conditions for plants. They are porous, providing necessary air circulation to roots, and have drainage holes in the bottom, making overwatering less likely.
* Plastic pots are lightweight and easy to handle but, as in metal or ceramic containers, water evaporates slowly, so you have to be careful not to overwater.
* If drainage is not provided, water can accumulate in the bottom of the container. Then roots rot and give off gases toxic to the plant.
* If you find a pot unattractive, set it in a jardiniere that better suits your taste.



Source: Adapted From Better Homes & Gardens Garden Book

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