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The Bonsai Tree
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Bonsai Tree Care and House Plant Care
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Re-planting and starting all over in a different containerPotting brings it all together: your house plant, its new container, and the potting mix in which it will live. Before you begin to repot, have all the necessary materials ready and waiting. Finding yourself out of potting mix with the container half filled is frustrating. Always plant in a clean container. Wash containers in soap and water; rinse them well to remove any soap film. Resurrected containers, especially red clay pots, may require scrubbing with a wire or a stiff-bristled brush to remove any clinging soil or salt and algae buildup.
Soak all porous containers (such as red clay pots) in water prior to planting. Dry, porous containers may rob moisture from the potting mix and the newly transplanted plant. Immerse the pots in water for an hour or so; then let them dry for a few minutes. Never put a plant in too large a container; you'll have too much soil for too few roots. The roots can't extract water from the extra soil, and the surplus moisture may eventually rot the roots. Choose a container the same size as the one holding your house plant or one only slightly larger—a pot 1/2 to 1 inch larger in diameter is the maximum. If your present container is larger than 10 inches in diameter, you may wish to use a somewhat larger pot to avoid frequent transplanting. Putting a house plant in a container without a drainage hole isn't ideal, but it can be done. Problems arise when the plant is watered; once in, the water has no escape. The solution is to provide a drainage layer inside the container to act as a holding tank for the excess moisture. Place a layer of small rocks or pebbles in the bottom of the container. This layer should take up about one quarter of the total container volume. You can also use small pieces of lava or broken bits of clay pots for the drainage material. The drainage layer allows water to seep through the soil and retains it until the moisture can be utilized by the plant or until it evaporates. Another advantage of the drainage layer is that it keeps the plant roots from sitting in soggy soil and permits the roots to obtain oxygen. Spread a thin layer of charcoal bits directly over the drainage layer. Charcoal keeps the soil sweet by absorbing any noxious by-products created in decaying matter in the soil or potting mix. A newly potted plant needs a respite from its normal environment. Adjusting to a new container can be traumatic for a plant. Place the well-watered plant in a cool, sunless spot for several days. If it wilts, don't re-water unless the potting mix is completely bone dry at least an inch below the surface. Try misting to rejuvenate the plant. Or create a greenhouse atmosphere by sealing the plant, pot and all, in a plastic bag. (A sun-loving plant is an exception; place it immediately in its permanent location.) Bonsai Supplies |
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