Hello, human. It is I, your Gardenia. I feel the walls of my pot growing tight, and my roots yearn for a new expanse of earth. I sense you wish to help me move. This process is delicate for me, so please, follow these steps from my perspective to ensure I continue to thrive and fill your senses with my fragrant blooms.
Timing is everything. Please do not consider this when I am in full bloom, as the immense effort of supporting my beautiful, fragrant flowers means I have little energy to spare for root repair. The ideal moment is in the early spring, just as I sense the days lengthening and I begin my most vigorous growth period. Alternatively, just after my main flowering cycle has finished is also acceptable. This gives me an entire season to settle into my new home.
My new pot should be only one size larger, perhaps 2-3 inches wider in diameter. A mansion-sized pot is a danger to me; too much unused soil holds excess water, which will drown my roots and cause them to rot. Most critically, I require a specific type of soil. I am an acid-loving plant. You must select a potting mix formulated for azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons—it will have the low pH I crave. Please ensure the new pot has excellent drainage holes; my roots despise sitting in water.
Please be kind and water me thoroughly a day before the move. This hydrates me and helps the root ball hold together. When it's time, tip my current pot sideways and gently ease me out. Do not pull me by my stems! If I am stubborn, you can tap the pot's rim on a firm surface. Once I am free, look at my roots. If they are circling tightly around the soil, you must gently tease them apart with your fingers. This encourages them to grow outward into their new space instead of continuing in a suffocating circle.
Place a layer of my new, acidic potting mix in the bottom of the new pot. The depth should be such that when you place me on top of it, my root ball sits about an inch below the pot's rim. Center me in the pot. Then, begin filling in the spaces around my root ball with more fresh soil, gently firming it down as you go to eliminate large air pockets. Please do not bury my main stem deeper than it was before; this can lead to stem rot.
Once I am securely potted, water me slowly and deeply. Use room-temperature water, and continue until you see water flowing freely from the drainage holes. This settles the soil around my roots and provides essential hydration after the shock of moving. After this, place me in a location with bright, indirect light. I will be a little stressed from this ordeal and need time to acclimate without the harshness of direct, hot sun. Hold off on fertilizing for at least a month to allow my roots to recover.
