Question

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Thank you for the information. Will a 10" pot be large enough that the plants won't have to be repotted again for several years?

-----Question-----
I have three Aralia elegantissimas, one in a 6"pot, the other two in 4" pots. The 6" plant has sparse stems due to under watering through neglect so I am going to repot all three plants into a single container. Given that these are swift growing plants what is the best size pot to use for replanting so that I will not have to have to repot again for a few years.
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Hi Dierdra,

First, you should know that unnecessary repotting and moving plants into pots that are too large is the single most cause of serious plant problems. Moving a plant to an oversized pot so you can avoid repotting again is like putting a child in adult-sized shoes so you won't have to buy new shoes again. When a plant has outgrown its pot, it should always be moved up one pot size only.

Plants grow best when they are kept quite potbound. In general if the pot is large enough that the plant can go 3 days without requiring more water, then it does not need to be repotted.

Most plants, including false Aralias, need to dry out within 7 to 10 days following a thorough watering. If it takes longer than 10 days, then the roots are at risk for rotting. So take this into account before you move your plants into bigger pots.

If you still want to combine your three Aralias, then you should put them into the SMALLEST pot that you can squeeze them into. You might be able to squeeze them into an 8" pot, but it will probably require a 10" pot. That means you will have to add a lot of extra soil in the spaces in between and that extra soil is what will retain moisture around the roots for a long time.

You can minimize the quantity of soil that you add by putting little or none at the bottom of the new pot and never add soil to the surface of the existing rootballs. That means the plants will sit low in the pot and may look a little strange until they grow taller. But you will at least be reducing the risk of root rot.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

I have written an article on repotting that I will send to anyone who sends a request to my address below.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]  

Answer
Hi Dierdra,

Yes, I would be very surprised if you need to repot again for a very long time. In ideal conditions, such as in a greenhouse, growth rate is much faster and more frequent repotting is necessary. But assuming your Aralias are in a standard home setting, then you should not need to repot for several years, if ever.

Will