Martha up close & personal

Part of good potted plant maintenance is knowing when it's time to repot.

Out in my Winter House courtyard is a handsome potted Pittosporum - a dense, low-maintenance evergreen with delicate bold green foliage. The specimen had been in the same pot for quite some time and was in need of a more spacious container and fresh nutrients. My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, selected a pot that was slightly larger than its original vessel with good drainage and went to work.

Here are some photos, enjoy.

Pittosporum is a tough evergreen tree in the family Pittosporaceae. It is sometimes also known as sweet pittosporum, native daphne, Australian cheesewood, Victorian box or mock orange.

One of the many tasks on our long garden “to do” list is to repot this Pittosporum. The plant is top-heavy and may fall over easily, so it is important to re-home it before the pot and the plant are damaged.

The replacement pot is about 30-percent larger. When selecting the next size, it is important not to get a pot that’s too big. Potting soil holds on to excess water, and the more soil that’s in the pot, the more water will remain – that’s good for moisture-loving plants, but not for those that prefer to be well-drained

And always make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. I prefer those with at least one drainage hole. It allows extra water to escape, which prevents the soil from becoming waterlogged. Drainage holes also help reduce salt buildup in the soil, since water flowing out of the hole will take the extra salt with it.

And always make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. I prefer those with at least one drainage hole. It allows extra water to escape, which prevents the soil from becoming waterlogged. Drainage holes also help reduce salt buildup in the soil, since water flowing out of the hole will take the extra salt with it.