Growing and maintaining Carex in pots

Planting carex in pots: a simple task for everyone!

You can treat yourself to a Carex testacea as well as a Carex buchananii, perfect varieties for pot cultivation, allowing you to create a stunning variegated display of carex. To enhance these specimens and ensure they thrive for as long as possible, simply follow these recommendations.

Choosing the Pot and Variety of Carex

Carex often reaches a height and spread of between 40 and 60 cm at ripeness: always take the time to check the dimensions of the plant when choosing your pot. Ideally, select smaller sedges for pot cultivation, especially if you have limited space. For the most compact balconies, you might consider the Mountain Sedge (Carex montana), which does not exceed 20 cm in height and 30 cm in spread. Carex that do not exceed 50 or 60 cm are perfectly suitable for pot cultivation.

Planting Carex in Pots: Substrate and Care During the First Few Weeks

You can plant carex in early autumn (September and October) or in spring, between April and May. If you have chosen a rather tender species (Carex comens, testacea, buchananii), it is better to wait until spring to plant it.

• One hour before planting your sedge, soak the root ball in water for 10 minutes to ensure it is fully hydrated;
• At the bottom of the pot that will hold the plant, place a 3 cm layer of gravel or clay balls to ensure optimal drainage;
• Ideally, mix garden soil with good potting compost, or just use potting compost if you do not have a garden;
• Add substrate and place the root ball so that the top of the root ball is level with the surface of the pot. Finally, fill in with more substrate.

You do not need fertiliser. However, be sure to water the pot generously during the first few months.

Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ grown in a pot

Caring for your potted carex on a daily basis

Carex are robust plants that require very little maintenance:

Exposure: avoid all extremes

Carex can be planted in full sun or partial shade. Carex oshimensis does relatively well in the shade. Just avoid scorching sun and overly dense shade.

Watering and maintenance

If you are looking for tips for caring for Carex, note that generally, they need slightly moist soil without being waterlogged, hence the importance of good drainage. When watering, always ensure that water does not stagnate in the saucer, as this can be harmful to the roots, which may rot. Some species like Carex pendula or ripara need the substrate to remain moist, but we advise against them if you do not want to spend all your time watering.

In pots, the substrate tends to dry out very quickly, which is why it is important to water regularly. Do not let the substrate dry out.

Pruning, propagation, and repotting Carex in pots

Unlike deciduous grasses that need to be pruned at the end of winter, sedges do not require any pruning. You can simply remove the dead leaves.

Carex oshimensis ‘Everglow’ on the right, grown in a pot

In general, repotting is done every 2 to 3 years when your Carex becomes root-bound. For this, after the last heavy frosts of spring, remove and divide the clump into 3 or 4 pieces using a knife or spade. Replant the divisions immediately, one per pot. Water generously.