So, my dracaena. It’s been looking a bit sorry for itself lately. You know how it is, you walk past it every day, and then one morning you really look at it and think, “Hmm, you’re not your usual cheerful self, are you?” The leaves were a bit droopy, and I just had a feeling it was time for a change of scenery, pot-wise.
I’d been putting it off, because, let’s be honest, repotting can be a bit of a faff. But I knew it had to be done. So, last Saturday, I rolled up my sleeves.
Getting My Gear Ready
First thing I did was gather all my bits and bobs. I rummaged in the shed for a new pot. Found one that was just a little bit bigger than its current home – you don’t want to go too massive, or the plant gets a bit overwhelmed, or so I’ve found. Learned that one the hard way with a peace lily once.
Then, the potting mix. Just some all-purpose stuff I had. And, crucially, some old newspapers to spread on the kitchen floor. My other half has a keen eye for stray soil, so best to be prepared!
The Great Escape
Alright, this is where the fun begins. I gently tipped the dracaena on its side. Gave the bottom of the pot a few good taps. Sometimes they slide right out. This one? Nah, it was clinging on for dear life. I had to give it a bit of a wiggle, gently tugging at the base of the stems. It took a bit of coaxing, I can tell you. For a second, I thought I might have to take a hammer to the old pot, but no, it finally came free with a satisfying thwump.
And wow, the roots! They were all tangled up, going round and round the bottom. Definitely needed more space. No wonder it was looking a bit peaky. It was practically wearing a root corset.
I spent a few minutes gently teasing out the roots with my fingers. You don’t want to break them too much, but you do want to encourage them to spread out in their new home. Loosened them up as best I could.
Settling into the New Pad
Okay, new pot time. I chucked a few bits of broken terracotta at the bottom – I always do this for a bit of extra drainage, whether it actually does much or not, it makes me feel better. Then a layer of fresh potting mix.
Carefully, I lifted the dracaena and plonked it into the new pot. Tried to get it sitting straight and in the middle. Then I started backfilling with more potting mix, gently patting it down around the root ball. You want to get rid of any big air pockets, make sure the roots are snug.
I filled it up to about an inch or so below the rim of the pot. That way, when I water it, it doesn’t all just slosh over the side. Simple stuff, but easy to forget when you’re in the zone.
Watering In and Hoping for the Best
Once it was all tucked in, I gave it a really good drink of water. Let it soak right through until water started coming out of the drainage holes at the bottom. This helps the soil settle and gives the roots a good welcome drink.
Then it was just a case of cleaning up my mess (thank goodness for those newspapers!) and putting the dracaena back in its usual spot by the window. It actually looks quite smart in its new, slightly larger pot.
It’s only been a couple of days, but I reckon it’s already perking up a bit. Maybe it’s just me being optimistic, but the leaves seem to have a bit more oomph. Fingers crossed it thrives now. It’s always satisfying when you do these little jobs, isn’t it?
