Potluck!

‘But I’ve been watering it!’

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had crestfallen clients asking me why their precious potted plants have either died or look perpetually awful. Most people assume the problem is lack of water and although this is sometimes the case, often this isn’t the cause.

Whenever potting up plants, I begin with choosing a premium quality potting mix. Please avoid choosing cheap brands from Bunnings to save a few dollars as you may as well be throwing your money in the bin. When choosing a potting mix, you want one that holds water well and contains both fertiliser and a wetting agent. In short, choose a premium brand. If unsure, a reputable nursery and garden supplies yard will have a quality product for you. If the mix is cheap, it will leak out of the pot like a sieve, whereas a premium potting mix will absorb the water like a sponge.

The next thing to do is choose the appropriate size pot for the plant. Lots of people think that it’s best to buy a large pot for a small plant and allow it to grow large over time. WRONG! All this does is allow the plant to get swamped by all the surrounding wet potting mix and die a miserable and avoidable death. The rule of thumb I use is ‘Small plant, small pot, large plant, large pot’. If you’ve just purchased a standard six-inch pot from the nursery, an eight-inch ornamental pot is what you should be planting into. As the plant grows and the roots fill up the pot, it is time repot into a slightly larger pot. You can tell if the plant roots have filled the pot by gently pressing on the stem. If there is no movement in the pot itself, it’s time for a larger pot.

Once you’ve chosen a quality potting mix and appropriately sized pot, the next step is to water it in. I know it sounds silly but please make sure the pot has holes in the base. Some indoor plant pots have no holes in them (they are designed to hold other plant pots with holes and not be planted directly into). Also, lots of people like to plant up a half wine barrel as a garden feature. These also do not have drainage holes and require you to drill in large holes prior to filling with potting mix (I drill five evenly spaced large holes when I do this). Failing to allow your pots to drain simply leads to waterlogged plants. Another trap is placing pots on saucers to protect paving, timber decks etc. There’s nothing wrong with this so long as you occasionally empty the sauces to avoid waterlogging.

Now this is the most important part of this blog! Do not use soil!! I’ve had many clients over the journey tell me that plants grow in soil, so why do I need to use potting mix? The answer is that soil becomes compacted in pots, causing that the roots to become unable to absorb oxygen.

Lastly, the ensure the longevity and health of your potted plants, water generously and regularly until water drains from the pot and fertilise occasionally with a liquid or granulated fertiliser. Also avoid adding compost as this too can lead to compaction.

Here are some tips to ensure success!

• Avoid cheap potting mix.

• ‘Small plant, small pot, large plant, large pot’

• Ensure pot has drainage holes.

• Do not leave pots sitting on saucers for too long.

• Water regularly (pots dry out quicker than in the garden)

• Never use soil in pots!

• Add fertiliser, especially over the spring/summer growth period.