Container plant care

Over the years, I have used countless containers, in many sizes and shapes, throughout my garden. To be honest though, the older I have become, I have had to cut down on the overall number to make the plot easier to manage. But of course, over the years I have had to repot and replant countless plants that have been growing in them.

Should I repot my container plants?

I suppose it should be fairly obvious, that most healthy container-garden plants will eventually outgrow their pots. A couple of the key signs to look out for that indicate it’s time to repot are soil that dries out very quickly or roots that are tightly packed and begin protruding through the drainage holes. The best time to repot most plants is when they’re actively growing, in the spring or summer. However, I’ve found over time that plants can usually handle repotting whenever the situation warrants it, i.e. when it suits you. 

Root control

Repotting is a great way to reinvigorate a root-bound plant. If the plant is ready, it should lift out with the soil in one piece. If the soil falls away from the roots, you may be being a little hasty as it may not need repotting at all. Roots that are packed tightly in a pot will not be able to absorb nutrients efficiently. A good idea is to trim the roots and loosen up the root ball before replanting back into a pot. You can utilise a sharp knife or pruning shears for this job. Try and remove as much as the bottom third of the root ball if necessary and gently try and untangle the root ball with your fingers.

Bigger pot

It’s best to choose a new pot that is slightly bigger than the root ball, then place the plant in the centre of the pot. The top of the root ball should ideally sit about an inch below the rim of the pot. This makes watering so much easier and ensures that the water you use soaks into the soil. If the plant is in too deep, gently raise it and add more soil underneath it. If it sits too high, remove the plant and dig out some soil.

Next, fill the space around the root ball with soil, making sure you leave some room at the top so the pot can hold enough water with each watering to thoroughly moisten the soil.

Support healthy roots

The hidden secret behind good plant health is a great root system and it clearly pays to help them out, ensuring your plants achieve their full potential. A product I’ve used for several years now is Richard Jackson’s Root Booster! The product is a unique blend of three natural ingredients and it encourages good root development.

One application of Root Booster lasts a lifetime in the soil and compost. You can apply the product at any time of year by simply adding a few granules around the root system when planting in pots, borders, in the vegetable beds, or when transplanting/moving plants to new positions in the garden. Why not give it a go! 

Free plants

Early on when opening my garden, I used to sell home-grown plants. Repotting time was the perfect opportunity to split established plants to create plants for sale. More importantly, dividing your plants regularly will ensure healthy, vigorous specimens that should perform well year after year in your garden. You can divide at almost any time providing they are kept well-watered afterwards, but it is most successful when the plants are not in active growth.

I stopped my plant sales pre Covid, as it was so time consuming preparing the plants and maintaining them, in addition to all the other necessary jobs to get the garden ready for the public. It was a shame, as visitors really like to take away a garden memory, but sadly needs must! 

Container Plant Care

Fast food – The other thing I would highly recommend for all container plants is Richard Jackson’s Flower Power. I have used it in my container planting as well as plants and shrubs in the ground, every year over the last 10 years. The results are quite spectacular, as noted by many of my garden visitors who have taken the hint and tried it themselves at home and returned to thank me for pointing them in the right direction.

Perfect place – All container plants need to be sited in a spot that best suits their needs. For example, plants that need lots of sun should be in a south or west-facing location, while shade-loving plants should be in the shade. If the plant needs protecting from any prevailing cold winds, try placing them below walls, fences, or hedges to give them a degree of protection.

Water well – It is always a good idea to check the moisture level of the soil daily, especially in hot or windy weather. I use a probe that is just stuck in the compost and tells me how moist the compost is.  When watering, always do so deeply and thoroughly, making sure the entire root ball is soaked. You can also cover the soil with a thin layer of mulch to help conserve moisture 

Keep them flowering -Dead heading is a must, as and when required, to ensure longevity of your plants. Remove spent flowers and cut back leggy stems every few weeks. If plants become tired through the summer you can always replace them with fresh ones from a nursery or your garden.

Happy gardening.