Fall is a busy time of planting, as we refresh tired containers after summer, introduce fall flowers for pots, and start getting spring bulbs in. Even houseplants benefit from repotting at this time of year if they're in need of more room. While not necessarily a difficult task, potting up plants can be messy and tiring – unless you turn to the help of potting accessories.
A potting mat (I love this pink and red striped potting mat from IKEA) is a staple. It provides a dedicated space to pot up plants, keeping your patio or kitchen floor mess-free. The best part is its raised edges allow you to funnel excess soil back into the bag, so less goes to waste. Plus, it's one of the best collapsible gardening tools for space-saving storage. Or, if you have more room available, invest in a beautiful potting bench (Wayfair have so many to choose from) to set up your very own garden work space.
As for moving large pots around, a plant caddy is my go-to. These wooden plant caddies from Wayfair have a natural finish that make them decorative in their own right. And with lots of plants potted up in terracotta pots (you can pick up a set of four from Amazon), I like to keep mine labelled with reusable slate plant labels (like these from Walmart).
Of course, moisture management is also key when potting up new plants. Thinking ahead and placing these drainage inserts from Walmart in your pots will reduce the risk of root rot, oversaturation, and keep your plants healthy. Adding self-watering spikes (like these terracotta ones from Amazon) to pots can also make watering less effort and ensure your thirstiest plants don't run dry.
No matter what you're planning to add to your container garden or indoor garden, these 16 potting accessories are all worth adding to your kit.
There's a lot more to potting than simply placing a plant in a new container. You should also be aware of the quality of your potting soil, for example. A soil test (like this from Amazon) can reveal the available nutrients and pH. You can then replenish container soil to reuse.
And if you're potting up plants to set up a new container garden, it's wise to read up on container gardening mistakes to avoid. This includes potting up plants with different needs into the same container.
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