Expert: Mike Mascio - 9/9/2007

Question
I bought a townhome last year and the landscaping, etc. is taken care of through my homeowners association.  However; the previous owner left a tree/plant/bush?, something in a pot outside.  It started to blossom earlier in the spring, and I believe it's a gardinia plant.  It only gave me about 4-5 blossoms.  I don't really water it, only gets rain since it's outside.  I don't know if it's pot-bound or what I should do with it.  I think the homeowners association won't let me actually plant it.  What can I do?

Answer
Kristin, when container plants stop blooming, they have become root-bound. You need to transplant the plant to a larger pot, or find a location somewhere where it can be located permanently.

If you do transplant it to a larger pot, make sure you scratch the sides of the root ball to break up the roots. You can even take a sharp knife and make vertical cuts on the four sides of the root ball. Then place the plant into a pot that is at least 4" larger than the one it is currently in. Be sure to supplement the growing medium with a fertile potting soil. Water the plant deeply, and keep it in a location where it will get at least 6 hours of sun per day.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike