World’s Oldest Potted Plant
“Usually it is a simple matter, involving a sheet of newspaper, a trowel and a bag of compost. But when the future of the world’s oldest pot plant is at stake, repotting becomes a much more complicated process. It took nine gardeners, a crane and three months of meticulous planning to place a one-tonne tree believed to be the oldest plotted plant in the world in a new container. The ancient cycad, a palm-like tree collected on one of Captain Cook’s voyages, was first slowly hoisted out of its box at London’s Kew Gardens. Five gardeners then clung onto and supported its angular trunk, while others slid the replacement container underneath. The plant was then lowered into the mahogany pot, which stands the height of a seven-year-old child, and a tonne of soil packed round it. The delicate operation was successfully completed this morning.” w/ photos
