Phormium

bouicca21

I had a large and very lovely Phormium. Note that's past tense. It is now a small and sickly Phormium.

I think it was overwatered (I had it in a decorative tallish pot with no drainage hole, and even though I put masses of stuff in to provide drainage, it didn't work). I have now put it in an ordinary pot but there has been so much rain that it is still very wet.

I now have a stalk with a few leaves. What to do? Give up? Repot it deeper so bald bit of stalk is buried? Leave it and hope?

As for the decorative pot, it is even now full of water. I'm thinking maybe drill a few holes in the base.

Farway

You always need drainage holes in the base

Ceramic posh pots are really only plant pot holders to stop water getting on the furniture, and they should be emptied out often

malebolge

If you're going to drill holes in the ceramic pot, remember to use the right sort of drill - you need a masonry drill bit for terracotta and ceramic, or a tile drill bit for more sturdy, glazed pots.

You might be able to save your phormium - they've fairly tough but hate overwatering. You need to get it in a pot with good drainage - a large ordinary flowerpot (with drainage holes) with broken terracotta in the bottom would be ideal. Don't worry about feeding - they don't need rich soil. You need to have a look at the rootball you have left - if it's compacted bash it a bit to break up the roots so it's easier for them to grow into the new soil. Then leave it. Don't water it at all unless it's really dry. They grow naturally in very exposed dry places so are happy with minimal attention.

bouicca21

It isn't a ceramic pot but a sort of plastic composite. I was thinking the drill bits for wood would be OK (?)

I'm going to repot it today. Cross fingers the root ball isn't totally rotten.

bouicca21

Actually the weird thing about this particular pot is that it is one of four. The other three are fine, it's just this one that fills up with water every time it rains.