Hello there! From my perspective, my long, spindly stems and the large gap between my leaves are not a style choice but a desperate plea for help. I was likely reaching, stretching every fiber of my being towards a light source that was too far away. Perhaps I was on a windowsill that didn't get enough hours of direct sun, or maybe I was crowded with other plants, fighting for my share of photons. This etiolation made me weak. My stems can barely support my own weight, and my energy production is low. Repotting me is your way of answering my plea and giving me a chance to become the strong, bushy sage plant I was meant to be.
Before we begin the big move, my new home must be prepared. I crave a pot that is only one size larger than my current one—about 1-2 inches wider in diameter. A mansion-sized pot would be a disaster; all that excess soil would hold too much water around my roots, leading to rot, which I fear greatly. Most importantly, the new pot must have excellent drainage holes! As for my bed, I need a well-draining potting mix. A standard potting soil amended with perlite, coarse sand, or even a handful of gravel will mimic the well-drained, slightly gritty conditions my Mediterranean roots adore. Please do not use heavy, moisture-retentive soil; it will suffocate me.
Please be gentle. Water me lightly a day before the repotting; this will reduce transplant shock and make it easier to slip me out of my current confines. When it's time, tip my current pot sideways and support my base as you gently coax me out. Do not pull me by my stems! Once I'm free, look closely at my root ball. Gently loosen the outer roots with your fingers. You are looking for any roots that are dark, mushy, or smell foul—these are rotten and should be carefully trimmed away with clean, sharp scissors. Healthy roots are firm and whitish-tan. This little trim, though it might seem scary, invigorates me and encourages new, healthy growth.
This is the most crucial step for my transformation. Place a layer of fresh potting mix in the bottom of the new pot. Now, lower me into the center. Here is the secret: you must plant me deeper than I was before. Position me so that the soil level comes right up to the base of my lowest set of healthy leaves. Those long, bare stretches of stem that were above the soil? Bury them. This might feel counterintuitive, but those buried nodes along the stem will sense the soil and have the potential to develop new roots. This will anchor me more firmly and ultimately create a sturdier, fuller plant from the base up.
Once I'm positioned at the perfect depth, fill in around my root ball with the fresh potting mix, gently firming it to eliminate large air pockets. Give me a thorough, gentle watering until it runs freely from the drainage holes. This helps settle the soil around my roots. For the next week or so, place me in a spot with bright, indirect light. I need time to recover from the shock and for my roots to begin exploring their new home before I can handle the full, intense sun again. Hold off on fertilizing for at least a month; my new soil has plenty of nutrients, and my tender new roots need time to heal before they can handle it.
