Lesson 6
Aftercare — the part everyone forgets
Most propagation failures happen *after* rooting, not before. The newly-rooted plant is fragile; treat it like a hospital patient until it's clearly thriving.
Pot on into a richer, free-draining compost. Keep shaded for a week. Water from below to avoid disturbing fragile roots. Feed only lightly, only after a fortnight.
Resist the urge to overpot. A plant in a pot too big sits in cold, wet compost and sulks. Step up gradually: 7 cm → 9 cm → 1 L → 3 L.
The four-week aftercare checklist
- Week 1: shaded, humid, no feed. Top-water the surrounding compost, not the plant itself.
- Week 2: introduce dappled light; reduce humidity (remove bag for an hour, then two…).
- Week 3: half-strength liquid feed; full light by the end of the week.
- Week 4: pot on if roots are filling the pot; treat as an adult.