Transplanting a Potted Plant Seems Very Simple,

Transplanting a potted plant seems very simple, but is in fact a multiple step procedure each of which needs to be completed in the correct order. In this case, the discussion will focus on transplanting plants out of pony packs from the store, rather than re-potting an existing plant. A pony pack is a set of four or six seedlings, packaged in plastic containers, that are sold at most home improvement stores. After one has decided what kind of plant one will be growing, one must select the plant at the store. It is best to select plants that are only leaves, as opposed to flowers or fruits and leaves, as they will grow better. In addition, select plants with even colored leaves, that are not drooping or wilting. The soil should be slightly damp, but not wet, and water should not drip from the plant when one picks it up. Select a plant by these criteria, then move on to the next step.

To transplant a plant into the ground, one must find an appropriate place for the plant to go. Check the tag that is included with the pony pack for the ground, water, and sunlight criteria for the plant, and pick an appropriate place in the yard. Next, prepare your plants. Get a low-sided dish big enough to hold the pony pack, and fill it with about an inch of water. Place the pony pack in the dish, and allow the roots to soak up the water. Leave the plant in the water for the time it takes to prepare the transplant hole, or at least ten minutes. This will give the plant a little extra water at the roots to preserve it while it is adjusting to the new ground it will be placed in.

Next, dig the hole. First, lightly turn the soil where the plant will go, to a depth of about 6 inches. When it has been turned, dig a hole that is deep enough to cover the entire roots of the plant, that is, all the dirt attached to the plant. Set aside dirt dug out of the hole to re-fill it later. Then take the plant out of the pony pack. This is done by putting the plant's stem between one's pointer and middle finger, and inverting the pony pack, gently pressing on the bottom of the plastic container to encourage it to come out. Be careful as to not damage any of the other plants, while getting a single plant out. Once the plant has been removed, place it in the hole, and fill the hole with the removed dirt. Dirt should cover the entire base of the plant and part of the stem, leaving none of the original dirt above ground. Pat dirt gently to ensure the plant is firmly supported.