GRANDMA always said Transplanting must be done in March and October.
She always had Beautiful HousePlants.
I am a little late this year.
Got it done in April.
But it was still cold enough.

I think the Idea is that, at least in New York, the weather gets Warmer after March and the Plants can Flourish;
And it gets Colder after October, so the Plants lie somewhat Dormant.
So, rather than in the Middle of a Cycle,
you want to do any Transplanting at those Transition Points.

1. Find a Pot about an inch longer in Diameter than what you have,

so that the Roots will be able to spread out a half-inch in every direction,
And ideally, about an inch Deeper than what you have.

This helps the Roots to Grow in an Even Way,
You want them to grow somewhat tight.

2. Put Fresh Clean Soil in the bottom of the New Pot and along the sides.

Note: If the Pot as no Drainage Hole and Tray, You Must place some Bark or Stones in the bottom of the pot first so that over time, when you water the plant, the water has somewhere to drain.
Now, Place the existing plant, removed from the Pot it has outgrown,
into the center of the soil in the new Pot.

Use a fork, if necessary, to loosen the edge, and to help remove the plant from its old pot

Fill in the spaces along the sides with additional fresh soil

Fill in any space remaining along the sides with additional soil.
Pat it down lightly — not too tightly.

They Grow like we do.
Not so All Over the Place, or in Great Leaps and Bounds,
But More a Step at a Time; just branching out a little bit further…
We all need just a little bit of room — rarely as much as we would think.

Pinch off any dead leaves with your fingers — Never Use Scissors

3. Tear off any Dead Leaves, pinching them at the stem.

GRANDMA Always said this was important, as they will otherwise drain the Good Health of the Plant.
Like Us, they need to Let Go of what’s No Longer useful.

4. Never Ever touch the plant with Metal.

Do Not cut the Leaves with Scissors.
Rather, tear the dead leaves off at the stem with your hands.
Like Us, they like to be touched.
Contact is a Good and Healing Thing.

The Spider Plants on the WindowSill had grown Babies which tangled together

5. Water and place in appropriate Sunlight.

Like Us, Water and Light help them to Grow.
Like Us, Fracking poisons the Water Supply and Kills them.

I got some Fresh Soil.
I got the Pots lined up.
My Partner had asked some time ago if the Spider Plants would not be happier in a Hanging Planter.
These were Left Behind by our Favorite Neighbors Ever in the World when they moved away.
So we took them in
As a Reminder of our Great FriendShip and what Great Neighbors they were.

They seem so Happy Now, Together in their Hanging Pot

And just like People,
With Nurturing,
They Grew.

I went to Home Depot for a Hook from which to hang the planter,
And somehow picked up three small plants for which I happen to have the perfect size pots.

Less than $15 for All Four…

Then I picked up a Basil Plant on the way home.
Almost Nuthin’ makes this Little Italian-American Boy Happier than having Fresh BasilnegO Blooming in the Kitchen Window.
My Best Friend, PATRICE, Growing Up, had these Plants all over her Fire Escape.
Her Father, like most Italian Immigrants, would not settle for a Life without it.
What a Beautiful thing it was Every Evening, out on the Stoop playing as kids, to look up and see ANGELO on the Fifth Floor Fire Escape pulling from the Fresh Basil Plants to Season the Sauce for Dinner…
Does it surprise anyone that PATRICE grew up to be a First Class Gourmet Chef?

New Fresh BasilnegO

Seeds Planted

Amidst the Flower Pots, I came across two packets of Seeds:
One Packet of Sweet Peas from I-Don’t-Know-Where
And One Packet of Flower Seeds from the Opening Night of KING HEDLEY II on Broadway in 2001
I had the Pots.
I had the Soil.
This Pleasure would Cost Me Nothing.
Was it Worth a Try?
Can Seeds Bloom after lying Dormant for 15 Years?

Apparently they can.

What are these tiny Buds Shooting Up through the Soil…

Is there a Lesson in that?
You Betcha’!
Just because Some Talent or Idea or Desire has been lying Dormant in You for What-May-Be-Decades, does Not Mean that it Cannot Bloom.
Get in the Dirt!
Water and ReFresh YourSelf!
Take Root.
Start Small.
Slowly.
PLANT.
And BLOOM…

New Life Springs Forth

I put the Seed Packets in the Pots so I would know which is which,
And now I go to sleep at night with BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL’s Eyes staring at me somewhat intimidatingly from the WindowSill…
Believe me! There are worse THINGS than having the Most Beautiful Talented Man in the World staring at you as you drift to Sleep!! ;>)

My Basil is Blooming

BasilnegO, only a few weeks later…

Our Spider Plants are Happy

Sooooo Happy

The New Plants are Thriving.

Happy in their New Homes

Just Like Us, they Take Root

And Grow.

# # #