Drainage
Many growers omit drainage material, but I find it is good insurance against rot from over watering. Before potting, place a piece of broken flower pot, curved side up, over the drainage hole of small pots. Medium-sized pots (3 to 5 inches) require several pieces. Flats and bulb pans need a 1-inch layer of pot chips or pebbles, so water can quickly enter soil (with bottom watering) and also so excess water will drain quickly away. Obviously you can make use of plenty of broken pots. Toss them into a container and save them for potting.In addition to clay and plastic pots, you will be using flats extensively. They are essential for large quantities of seedlings, for starting tender bulbs, and so forth
Potting and Dividing Older Plants
When you are potting up established plants, remember that they can stand having soil well firmed with your thumb; but do not pack soil so tight as to exclude air. Leave at least 1/2 inch of space between soil and pot rim in pots up to 5 inches; at least 1 inch of space in larger pots. Filling up the pot completely with soil will make a one-shot job of watering impossible.Occasionally you may buy a large specimen of a choice plant, intending to propagate it by breaking it apart and repotting the pieces. If there are several plants in the pot, knock them out. With your thumbs, separate the plant into as many rooted
pieces as possible. If the plant still appears to have several crowns, you must cut it apart with a sharp knife. The sections with roots can be potted up in regular potting soil; the un-rooted ones must be stuck in sand or other media to root before potting. As growth on most plants is more rapid in spring, older plants should be repotted if possible shortly before the surge of new growth at this time.
