| With a few exceptions, our plants are in soil when you get them. They should not be planted deeper than they were in the pot. There is often a change of color at the soil level to give you a hint. The root ball should be loosened, shaking out as much potting soil as you can (it tends to dry out faster than soil) and spread roots out so that they head more down than out. The top of the root ball should be covered just enough to protect those roots from drying out. Too much soil around the crown may cause rot. Most bulbs , rhizomes etc. should be covered to about 2-3X their thickness. Too deep and they may have trouble coming up, and too shallow might be too hot or too dry for happy roots. I like to grub around in the forest when I'm out, to get an idea of just where those roots really are and what do healthy roots look like. There is as much plant under the ground as above and you'd be surprised what you might learn with a little well intended snooping. | ||
Here are some good choices for areas where the hose won't reach, that tend to be on the dry side at least occasionally. They won't all take Sahara conditions, but they can handle seasonal stress better than many others. Some may be recommended for moist areas, but can handle the drier side of moist. Confusing? Just remember that there are many, many variations in natural habitats, even within a very few feet, and for us to limit our description to Moist, Wet or Dry is inherently incomplete. This list along with other sources of information, may help you choose more carefully for your specific needs, and save water!
Drought Tolerant Plants