POTTING AND REPOTTING 29 



spread out the lower half of the mass of roots. 

 If part of the ball of earth crumbles away, 

 it does not matter. Then place enough 

 soil in the new pot to bring the plant in about 

 the right position — that is, with the sur- 

 face (which should be loosened up) of the 

 old ball about half an inch to one inch, 

 according to size, below the rim of the pot. 



The potting stick (see page 32) will be 

 useful in firming the soil. 



When removing palms, rubber plants, 

 and other comparatively large-rooted plants 

 from the pots, the roots will be found matted 

 together in circles. If possible, without 

 injuring the roots, remove the old drain- 

 age. This will leave a large hole in the balL 

 Before putting the plant in the new pot, 

 fill up this holewith soil; otherwise itwill allow 

 the water to drain away too rapidly, and the 

 interior of the ball becomes too dry. Some- 

 times the roots are so matted that it is impos- 

 sible to remove the drainage. 



POTTING UP CUTTINGS AND SMALL PLANTS 



Cuttings and seedlings are usually first 

 potted up in thumb pots (two-inch), from 

 which they are shifted to larger pots as soon 



