22 How to pot a plant 

\ 
~ 
Fic. A < Fic. B Fic. C 
Break the crown or hard edges of the ball of roots in Fig. B and loosen the 
mass of roots. 
Potting Technique 
Before repotting, the soil in the pot should be only slightly damp 
so that it may be easily shaken from the roots when necessary to free 
the plant from any bugs infesting the root system. A healthy plant 
or seedling requiring a larger pot may have the soil dampened so 
that the plant with its ball of earth may be gently tapped out of the 
old pot and placed in the new pot with little root disturbance. 
Prepare perfect drainage by putting an inch or more of broken 
pots or small pebbles in the bottom of the pot and a layer of sand 
or gravel over these. A light sprinkling of charcoal and screened 
moss is also beneficial. This bottom layer provides perfect drainage 
and keeps the soil from becoming soggy, sour or acid—all of which 
are deadly to succulents. 
In removing a plant from a pot, tap it gently upside down on the 
corner of a table (Fig. A) and the plant and its ball of roots (Fig. 
B) slide out easily. 
Hold plant by tongs in the proper position in the mouth of the 
pot and fill around it with the prepared soil, gently tamping it in 
