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Warneckii with a water wick - what do I do?

6 years ago

Just moved offices at my work and I bought a beautiful Warneckii from Home Depot to replace an old office plant that I couldn't rescue (not that I know too much anyway). The Warneckii is labeled "15oz WaterWick" (Costa Farms) and sure enough has a water wick hanging out from the bottom of its plastic container. There also appear to be roots trying to grow out of the small drainage holes in the container and I thought I'd try to re-pot to a larger pot. (I have the old office plant's pot that is about twice the size of the Warneckii's container - it is a pot with drainage holes that is inside a second plastic liner, so holds excess water a bit.).

However, the WaterWick has a plastic piece that makes it impossible to remove the plant from the container it was sold in (which again appears to be too small) without cutting the container apart. That made me think to ask what the best way to re-pot a water-wicked plant is? Should I cut apart the plastic container and try to thread the wick through the large pot's drainage hole? Should I get rid of the old soil from the large pot? I have no idea how long the old office plant lived in that pot.

Featured Answer

Justin

6 years ago

Hi merrilyn23!

It sounds like what I'm hearing is that your Dracaena is rootbound and difficult to pull out of the grower's pot? Is that correct?

The way the WaterWick works in that plant is that there's a plastic stick (we call it a click-stick here in the office) inserted into one of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. As you're seeing, this stick holds the wick in place. Happily, the click-stick isn't attached to anything --- it's just pushed up one of the drainage holes. So you should be able to pull the plant out of the grower pot as normal (though I can see how the click-stick could potentially make it more difficult if the roots are growing around the click-stick.

If you'd like to maintain your Dracaena as a WaterWick plant, your best bet is to cut the grower pot away from the click-stick. You may be potentially be able to yank the click-stick back out the drainage hole it was inserted in with a pliers or other tool, but it may not be easy because the click-stick is toothed to keep it from falling out of the pot.

We're working to sell our click-sticks as a standalone item, so in the future (if a retailer decides to buy click-sticks from us), you'll have the option of simply buying a new click-stick that you can insert into the pot yourself.

Does this help? If not, let me know!

---Justin
Costa Farms Horticulturist

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Comments (7)

laticauda
6 years ago
Many of us are unfamiliar with what you're talking about. Do you have some pictures from different angles?
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
The plant in question is Dracaena fragrans 'Warneckii'. Can't help with the wick question. Never used or seen one.
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debbiecz3
6 years ago
Can't advise you on the repotting of your plant but if you go to Costa Farms website they talk about their water wick containers and you may get some information there. I do know that the roots will grow through the drainage holes in self watering pots quicker than those potted plants watered from above; I guess reaching for the water source.
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6 years ago
This sounds like a great idea for those who like the idea of wicking but never seem to get around to rigging something.
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Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
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Theoretically, yes. I've only done it occasionally with a paper towel.

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