In the month of June, the winds tune up their speed. The sky turns dark and clouds start showering rains. In this weather, the joy of enjoying a cup of hot ginger tea (or coffee), while sitting beside your favourite plants is unmatched. Without plants, you simply can’t experience this feeling which is beyond describing in words.
Growing plants at home is very simple. More importantly, the whole experience of watching something grow in front of your eyes is very meditating. The time spent with your plants can make you feel relaxed, and help to disassociate from all the thoughts. So, if you are thinking of getting plants for your home, then you are in the right place. This article will teach you a foundation lesson of home gardening. So you have researched about your favourite plants and even shortlisted a few planters but what next? Potting your planters is the first step in this direction and we will explain some of the very important & effective tips & tricks that can help you grow your plants. So, when you pot your outdoor planters, you will exactly know what to do.
Sourcing the enriched soil
The usual trend is to buy garden soil from a nursery. However, there is a trick that can help your plants to grow naturally. Go to places of lush green vegetation around your city/town. Collect the soil below tall green trees. The leaves fallen from trees decompose over a period of time. This process keeps getting repeated. This enriches the microbe count in the soil. Thus, the soil below tall trees is considered the best for potting. This soil fosters the growth of plants. It reduces the dependency on external fertilizers. Buying the garden soil & filling it in decorative planters is easier. However, taking this extra effort can help your plants in the long run. So, if you want your plants to flourish at no extra cost, how about packing your empty bags and going for a quick jungle trek?
Cocopeat, Moisture & Watering
Cocopeat is a natural fibre obtained from the coconut husk. If you are using the fresh cocopeat for the first time and you are getting it from the cocopeat brick, then rest it in a water bucket for 24 hours. This will allow the heat trapped in it to release completely. Post that you can prepare your mix and put in your outdoor planters. After potting, the initial time is crucial for every plant. Sufficient watering during this time allows the plant to stabilize. You can check the moisture in the soil by touching the soil and water the plant whenever it’s dry. This will prevent the plant from going under stress conditions.
Understanding the ‘mix’ composition
Different plants have different moisture requirements. The soil/plant mix plays a crucial role in regulating plant moisture. You should keep this in mind while preparing a mix for your plants. There are a few plants like Aster, Day Lily, Geranium etc. that grow really well in clay soil. If you are growing these plants, then you can adjust the composition of your plant mix and keep the soil on the higher side. On the other hand, there are plants that need quick drainage of water. For such plants, you can increase the amount of cocopeat and reduce the proportion of soil. A perfect mix for your decorative planters will allow your plants to thrive. In the outdoor setting, the rate of water evaporation is higher. Hence, the soil should be able to hold at least some amount of water for plants. This will prevent your plants from shrinking and getting dull.
Precautions while repotting
Repotting is the process of transferring a plant from one planter to another. Plants can grow very quickly. The root spread extends and the existing space within a pot becomes insufficient. This hampers the growth of plants. To prevent this, you should re-pot those plants into new outdoor planters. It may appear very easy, but the roots of plants get disturbed during this process. A plant goes through shock during this process & needs time to recover from it. So, repotting needs some special care. Do not water the plant for a day or two. Allow the soil in the pot to dry completely. Then slowly rotate the stem and then gently pull it out from the planter. Make sure the roots get no or as minimum damage as possible during this process. Plants shall be ideally transferred from small pots to large planters. Fill up the new planter with soil. Then place the plant and cover the roots of the plants with garden mix or soil. Level the upper surface of the soil and then water the plant. After repotting, irrespective of whether it’s an indoor or outdoor plant, keep it in shade for 3-4 days. This will allow the plant to recover fully. Once you feel that the plant is ready, then you can move it to its original space. Reading our previous blog can help you know more about precautions that need to be taken while moving plants from one place to another.
How to identify if a plant needs repotting?
When a plant grows, its roots start coming out of the water openings of the planter at the bottom. Unless you see this sign, don’t think about repotting the plant. This whole process makes a plant undergo a lot of stress. You can avoid this process altogether by opting for large planters at the beginning. This will not only save your trouble of repotting but also prevent your plant from dying out of a shock.
Understanding Outdoor Vs Indoor Plants
The classification of indoor and outdoor plants often tend to confuse a lot of gardening enthusiasts. Technically, every plant is an outdoor plant. Plants need different conditions of water and light for their growth. If these requirements of a plant can be met indoors, then that plant can grow even indoors. If a plant needs bright sunlight and a lot of water and if you can create these conditions in the open space of your apartment, then that plant can be an outdoor plant. So, while opting for a plant instead of sticking to the mere classification of indoor and outdoor, think from the angle of light requirement, tolerance to humidity, water requirement, the sturdiness of the plant. Thinking from this lens will allow you to try a whole new set of plants at your home.
Nutrition of potted plants
Plants hosted in outdoor planters grow differently than the ones planted in soil. Nutrients in the planter run away due to consistent watering. Hence to make up for these nutrients you can add fertilizer to your planter. You can give the small doses of compost made at home. Chemical fertilizers are not recommended in gardening unless really needed. Sticking to natural alternatives such as vermicompost, cow dung cake (dried and powdered), seaweed is also a great idea. This will restore the nutrients in the soil, fostering the growth of your plants.
Remember, plants have specific nutrition requirements. Do your research before buying fertilizers for your plants.
When to pot/ repot plants?
If you want to transfer the plants to a new pot, do it in the early morning or after the sunset. The harsh, bright sunlight and hot weather during the day can affect and damage the plant. The weather condition during the early morning or evening allows plants to adjust well. Thus, avoid potting or repotting plants in the middle of the day when the sunlight is very bright or the temperature is on the higher side.
Gardening in style, now made possible with Bonasila
Bonasila is a leading manufacturer of fiberglass planters India. If you are a gardening enthusiast, then this is a space for you. In this space, we host a series of conversations around plants, design and gardening. So if you want to welcome the coming monsoon with a cup of tea beside your plants, then this is the right time for you to get started. By reading our previous blogs, you can find about plants, suitable outdoor planters & everything else that can help you get started. For everything else, feel free to join us in the comment section & we will be more than happy to help you out.
Buying a planter? Buy it from market leaders?
There are several planter manufacturers but what differentiates us from them is the largest collection that we offer. Our 35 designs, including more than 130 sizes with 12 matt & gloss colours allows you to select from colours of your choice. If you love textures, then we have 14 rustic finishes with 4 different textures. So while buying from us, it’s very likely that you get a planter of your dream.
You can reach out to us on 9265077632 from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM (IST) from Monday to Saturday. Our team will be more than happy to help you out with your order.
There are emotions & efforts involved in every house design story. We being planter manufacturers, contribute in a small yet effective way to help you achieve the design of your dreams.