Sow Exotic New Plant Care Guide
Welcome to your new plant journey! Whether you're new to gardening or a seasoned food forester, we're here to help you grow your best, every step of the way.
Check out our tips below for successful growing right from the start or download the printable version. We're rooting for you!
Let there be Light: Unboxing
When your plants arrive, carefully unpack the box immediately.
First, remove the plants in their cardboard enclosures from the shipping box. This enclosure box may be stapled or taped to the side of the shipping box, depending on plant size.
Then, gently remove the potted plants from their cardboard enclosures, using scissors or a razor to cut the reinforced paper tape, and lifting out the pot. Pulling plants out by their stems may rip the roots. Also remove the eucalyptus bag (Medium Pots) and the BioBag (Large Pots). These bags are used to hold in moisture and soil during shipment. They are biodegradable and compostable, but you should remove them before planting.
Finally, reuse, recycle or compost your shipping box and packing materials!
Remember, your plants have been on quite a journey in a dark box to get to your garden. Some stress or yellowing may occur in transit. However, the new growth will become the proper shade of green when the plant has recovered from shipping and acclimated to its new environment.
A strong, healthy root system is what matters most. Minor temporary damage can sometimes occur in transit, but a healthy root system will quickly promote new leaf growth.
Watering
After unboxing, check each pot to see if it requires watering. If the soil is visually dry, water the plant until the soil is thoroughly moist.
Transitioning
Give plants time to slowly transition to their new environment.
After watering, place all new plants in a location of moderate temperature and light (but out of hot full sun) for a day or two until they adjust from shipping.
Next, move plants to their permanent location and allow them to acclimate to their new home for about a week. Allow plants acclimate to their new home before fertilizing.
If you plan to plant outdoors, slowly “harden off” your plants by gradually increasing their exposure to sunlight and outdoor conditions. For indoor planting, make sure to provide lots of light and do your best to mimic the desired climate conditions.
Planting & Repotting
Once your plants have acclimated to their location, they will require planting.
Now for the fun part - PLANT YOUR POT! Almost all of our plants ship in plantable pots made from coconut coir, peat, or burlap - depending on their size. You can plant these pots right in the soil!
When replanting in the ground or a larger container, make sure to replant so that the soil level of the original pot lines up with the soil line of the new location. Don’t bury the trunk!
We don’t recommend removing the plantable pots, as that could disturb the plants roots. Never pull on the stem of the plant, as that could also sever roots. Plantable pots help support strong, healthy root growth. So, do your plants a favor and plant them right in the ground.
Due to USDA regulations, our citrus trees ship within Florida in specialized citra pots that are made from recycled plastic. Citra pots shouldn’t be planted, but they can be reused or recycled.
For indoor planting or container gardening, increase pot sizes gradually over time. For example, plant a 4” (Medium) sized plant into a 6” or 8” container to start. Give the root systems time to grow into each new pot before replanting.
More Care Information
Every plant page on sowexotic.com has a section for each plants individual care needs, native growing environments, harvest seasons and more. Check them out to learn more and share your plant reviews to help others grow.
