Re-potting ferns and trailing plants or vines can really get tricky without a lot of damage to the plants. Here's a quick (and Thrifty!) idea to protect your plants during re-potting, and it makes planting much easier for you!
You'll need your plant, potting soil, a new pot, plus an old towel, a pair of scissors, and some twine or cotton string.
- Lay your towel down on a hard surface and smooth it out.
The plant itself should be centered on the towel, while the old pot should be laying off of the towel.
- Gently lay your plant down on its side (being sure to lift the bottom stems up so they lay flat on the towel and aren't being smashed). Use your hands to gently bunch all of the stems "upright", then carefully wrap the towel around the plant, first one side and then the other.
- Now gently, but firmly, wrap your twine around the whole bundle, securing the towel around the stems. The towel protects the stems from damage while the twine holds the whole bundle together, making it much easier to re-pot your plants!
- Remove the old pot. Now you can loosen the roots and pop the whole thing into your new prepared pot. Just add more soil, clip the twine, unwrap the towel and viola! Re-potting success in less time with less damage to your ferns or trailing vines! Don't forget to take a few seconds to tease the loose stems back into place. Enjoy!
