Workshop
Repotting without damaging the roots
Two hours at the nursery, hands in the compost, with the gardeners who repot hundreds of plants every week. You go home with your plant, repotted by you.
Saturday 7 November, 10am to 12pm
- At the nursery, route de Bouskoura, Casablanca. Getting here
- 12 places, from age 10 with an adult
- Free, booking required. The compost and the tea are on us.
Why a workshop on repotting
It’s the thing we’re asked about most on WhatsApp, and the one that loses the most plants. A pot that’s too big, a compost that holds too much water, roots torn by pulling on the stem: the plant sulks all winter, or never recovers. Done well, at the right time, repotting gives it two or three years of good growth instead.
November is a good season for it in Morocco: the heat has passed, the nights are mild, and the plant has time to settle in before spring.
What you’ll learn
When to repot. The signs that never lie: roots coming out of the hole at the bottom or circling round the inside of the pot, water running straight out without wetting the root ball, a plant that stops putting out new leaves in the growing season. As a rule, every two to three years for a houseplant, every three to four years for a shrub in a planter.
Choosing the pot. Only 2 to 4 cm wider than the old one. A much bigger pot holds too much water around the roots, and they rot. Always a hole in the bottom. We’ll compare terracotta, glazed and tadelakt (the polished Moroccan lime plaster): which dries fast, which keeps the soil cool, which to choose for an exposed balcony.
The right compost. We make our own mixes at the nursery. You’ll see why a monstera, an olive tree and an aloe don’t get the same compost, and how to make a simple mix at home: potting compost, a little sand or pozzolana for drainage, and some garden compost.
Getting the plant out without hurting it. Water the day before, lay the pot on its side, tap the rim, slide a blade around the inside wall. Never pull on the stem. Then tease out the circling roots and cut away any that are black or soft.
The two weeks after. A thorough watering on the day, then nothing more until the soil has dried 3 cm down. No fertiliser for a month. A few days in partial shade, even for a sun-loving plant.
The programme
- Welcome, mint tea, and a walk through the greenhouses where plants are repotted before they leave for our customers.
- Demonstration: a houseplant and a young olive tree, from the old pot to the new.
- Your turn: everyone repots their own plant, with one gardener for every four people.
- Open questions. Bring photos of any plants you’re worried about.
Can’t come? The five steps to remember
- Water the plant the day before: a damp root ball slides out of the pot without breaking up.
- Pick a pot only 2 to 4 cm wider, always with a hole in the bottom.
- Lay the pot on its side, tap the rim, slide a blade around the inside wall. Never pull on the stem.
- Tease out the roots that circle round, cut away any that are black or soft, and set the root ball at the same height as before.
- Water thoroughly once, then wait until the soil has dried 3 cm down. No fertiliser for a month.
What to bring
A plant that needs repotting, in its current pot. If you don’t have one, pick one on the day from the nursery’s plants: you only pay for the plant, at the shop price. Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty; gloves and tools are provided. There is free parking at the nursery entrance.
Book a place
You’re booked.
Fully booked.
All the places are taken. Sign up for the seasonal letter at the bottom of the page, and we’ll let you know about the next workshop.
