Are you looking to brighten up your front porch or create a garden in a small space? Leigh Glaser found out how from San Jose Mercury News gardening expert, Holly Hayes.
For more information go to: www.mercurynews.com/homeandgarden
Check out Holly Hayes' blog at: mercextra.com/blogs/garden/
Contact Holly Hayes at hhayes@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5374
Materials Used:
When and how to up-pot:
- When the plant looks crowded in its container, gently tip it out to confirm that it is root-bound -- that is, the roots are circling the inside of the container.
- Select a new container that is just slightly larger than the one you're replacing. Introducing a plant to a too-big container may cause it to go into shock. For this segment, we up-potted a succulent, Haworthia obtusa, from an 8-inch round terra cotta pot into an 11-inch round terra cotta pot.
- Make sure your new container is clean. If you're recycling a previously-used pot, scrub it out with water mixed with a little bleach (9 parts water, 1 part bleach). Rinse.
- Put a small piece of mesh screen over the drainage hole. This prevents the soil from washing out and keeps pesky insects like earwigs from crawling inside the pot.
- For this succulent plant, I used a 50-50 mix of regular lightweight potting mix and cactus mix. Scoop some of this mix into the new pot.
- Carefully tip the plant out of its current container and gently tease apart the tangled roots. With seriously pot-bound plants, you may need to use a utility knife to cut through the mangled mess. Set in new pot and gently fill in with the 50-50 mix. Tamp soil lightly around the plant. Water gently to help soil settle; add additional soil as needed.
Planting the little succulent dish garden:
