Transplanting with less stress
Question: I have a beautiful gardenia on my back yard. It is 5.5 feet tall. Because of reconstruction of my house, I have to transplant it to a different location that has good sun-lite and slight afternoon shade. I know very well how to take care of this plant, but have no idea how to move it. I am worried to damage the roots. Do I need to cut it down about 1/3 before transplant?
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If you notice leaves drooping, you may put a large clear plastic bag over the foliage for 1-2 weeks. Make sure the plant is protected from winds and cold. Use covers if needed. If frost occurs, you may place a candle or Christmas light inside the cover (be careful not to cause a fire). We have some experience with moving large plants. When we sold the house, we had to dig out many of them to save from the new coming owner who hated plants. :-) All of them made it and are now living in pots (5 months already), expecting to be planted at our new place. And yes, I did trim some of them AFTER we potted them - to reduce stress (less leaves - less eveporation). But not much, especially when it's not hot. It is not necessary if the root system is not damaged badly. You may also try to apply growth hormones like Epin, it helps to recover from stress. |