Potting Directions for Home or “Potting Days”

Since some members may have questions about what to do to get plants ready for the sale, the Plant Sale Committee put together the following information to help. First, provide as much information as possible about the plants you pot or bring to potting days, particularly the name (both latin and common if you have it), the color of blooms and the growing location (shade or sun). We will make labels from this information.

How to Pot

We want to end up with plants that any gardener would like to add to their garden. First and foremost, the plants need to look healthy and full. The following guideline should help us present consistent attractive plants that our customer will love. Plants being potted at home need to be potted no later than Sunday, May 9th. It is not possible to tell if plants potted any later than this will actually survive once people get them home. We want our plants to look their best and to survive in our customer’s gardens. Remember it is a reflection on us if plants are not healthy.

  • Use pots that are generous for the plant. Please do not use a pot smaller than 6”.
  • Place newspaper, old telephone book pages or facial tissue in the bottom of the pot.
  • Select enough plant material to make a good-sized plant – a division at least 4” in diameter or a group of at least 6 stems for non-clumping plants.
  • Hold plant with roots hanging down into the pot and add dirt around the roots, gradually filling the pot. Top with soil and press down. When finished, the soil should be approximately 1” below the top of the pot.
  • Water and set in the shade.

Please drop off potted plants at Jessie Foster’s for pricing by May 14, 2010. If you need assistance and would like someone to pick-up any of the plants you have potted please contact Jessie Foster at 781-863-5206 or email at Foster863@rcn.com and she will make arrangements to do so. Also contact Jessie if you have any plants you would like to donate, but are unable to dig up and she will make arrangements to have someone assist you and get your plant material to one of the potting days.

What to Pot

The most desirable plants are unusual and/or easy to grow but not invasive. We would like any named varieties of plants such as; Hostas, Day Lilies (not common orange day lilies), Siberian (white) and Bearded Iris and Astilbes. In the past, the following plants have also sold very well: Peony, European Ginger, Japanese Painted Fern, Coreopsis, Sedum, Double Shasta Daisy, Jacob’s Ladder, Pulmonaria, Epimidium, Centaurea Montana, Corydalis, Aster, Heuchera, Foxgloves, Boltonia, Monkshood, Phlox Divaricata, Dianthus, Amsonia, Lady’s Mantle, Sweet Cicely, Bleeding Heart, Columbine, Goatsbeard, Black-eyed Susan, Coneflower, Campanula (non-wild), Sweet Woodruff, Lobelia, Malva, Solomon Seal (especially variegated), Bee Balm (mildew resistant), False Solomon Seal, Balloon Flower, Veronica, perennial Salvia, Lavender, Fern Leaf Yarrow, Bugbane, Hellebore.

If you are unsure about bringing a particular plant please contact Diana Bailey, the Potting Coordinator, before you bring clumps to the potting days and she can help you determine if it is appropriate. Please be aware that if a plant is determined to be invasive it may not be potted.

Note: Un-priced plants left on the day of the sale will not be sold. The day is very hectic and we will not have time to properly identify, label and price. Instead please call and get your plants moved to Jessie’s for pricing early.

More Plant Sale Information:

Page last updated 2010 March 30. Contact us!