1. What pot size should I choose?
The importance of your planter size may not be overly evident, but extra space may not only cause your planter to look bare, but it may also result in over watering. The general rule of thumb I usually go by is going up 2 inches in diameter from my original plant size. This means, that if you have a 6 inch plant, use an 8 inch pot to avoid too much extra space in your planter.
2. Choosing a Pot
Because you are planting inside, you need to make sure the planters you choose are well drained. You can add stones, rocks, or broken clay pieces to the bottom of your planters to increase drainage. The rocks will keep the water away from the roots. Self watering planters like our Self-Watering Modena Planters make a great option because they come equipped with an indicator, which indicates whether there is sufficient water or if water needs to be added, making the need to water, a lot less frequent.
3. What kind of soil should I use?
For most plants you want to choose a soil that is pretty light in weight, comprised of mostly organic materials. Essentially, you want your plants to be able to get as much air, sun and water as possible, so you want a soil that is packed with water, allowing your plants to breath. A key element to great soil, is well developed compost! You can find many different style Composters on our compost page above.
4. Packing the plant
The key is to add pressure and be firm without being too aggressive with your plants. They are delicate, but you don't have to be scared to hurt them! Put soil in the bottom of the pot and pack it down firmly. Put your plant in the middle of the pot and fill the sides in so that the soil is firmly packed there as well.
5. Watering - How much? How often?
Over-watering is probably the biggest reason a plant doesn't thrive. Although you should make sure to thoroughly water your newly potted plants after planting, most plants do better when you let the water dry out a bit in between waterings. So don't water again until the first few top inches of soil are dry! The Drip Drop is a perfect product for days when you can't make it home to water your plants, as it slowly releases water to keep roots hydrated.
6. Light
Always pay attention to care labels after purchasing a plant, or do a bit of research online before potting it up. You need to know if your indoor plant wants full sun, partial sun, or shade. Typically, most plants love sun, but there are some that like a moderate amount of light, or none at all. So do your homework first!
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