Magickal Potted Plants

Magickal potted plants are a rare opportunity to combine portable landscaping with magick. Many are meant to be grown, but not necessarily plucked, and will frequently be for protection, but other purposes exist.

Before you begin, relax mind and body. This is a magickal act, a spell that you are undertaking. You will need to go into and out of a light trance during the entire process, but remember throughout the process what it is that you want to accomplish.

Once you have decided on which plants you would like, decide if you want to grow them from seed. It's certainly possible, but by May (in the northern hemisphere) you should consider buying the young plants.

Collect the pots you wish to use. At the beginning of the growing season, the pot should be no more than half the width of the expected plant width. Later on, the roots should be no more than half an inch away from the pot sides; the roots can even touch the sides. Pots should have a minimum of one square inch of drainage hole (at the bottom) for every cubic foot of soil capacity, and more is better. If plants have been grown in them before, clean thoroughly with soap and hot water (bleach would not be out of place, but be careful, and rinse well; chlorine is extra-hard on our environment).

Get or make your potting mix. If you make yours using garden soil, you must sterilize it with heat (which will stink up the house and lead to divorce); I suggest using a soil-free mix and adding sterilized steer manure for the organic matter.

My potting mix:
1 gallon peat
1 gallon vermiculite
1 gallon shredded fir bark
1 gallon composted manure
1/2 cup bonemeal
1/2 cup greensand
a sprinkle of rock phosphate and cottonseed meal over it all
For a faster-draining mix, add 1 gallon of coarse bird grit

At home, set up a work space in the shade, with pots, potting mix and plants to hand. Wash your hands. Gather any tools, like pruning shears, trowel, dibble, and so on.

Cast your Circle around your working area; if you usually use an athame, change to a wand. Welcome the Lord and Lady, and ask Them to oversee your work. You may find Them very helpful.

Fill a pot two-thirds with the potting mix. Gently ease a plant from its container by its lower leaves and rootball, cutting root tangles off as needed; try not to grip the stem, as circulation can be cut off. If the roots are wrapped tightly, gently ease the tips out a bit so that they will more quickly grow to the side of the pot. Place the plant in its spot and add more mix until it just barely covers the rootball; this varies with the plant, as some like to be buried deeper and others would suffocate and die (so read up on each plant). Gently poke and shake the mix until the plant seems secure. Water the pot until it runs out the bottom, spreading the water around to soak the entire pot; top up the potting mix as needed. When you are done, thank the Lord and Lady and release the Circle.

Put the plant in shade for three days to recover, and then out into its designated spot. Water as needed.

Now, what to plant?

Cactus - protection against burglary and unwanted intrusions; in the bedroom, will preserve your chastity. Full sun and gritty, well-draining soil. Handle by wrapping a newspaper band around each one.

Catnip - love, animal contacts. Dry large leaves to use as bookmarks in magickal books; relaxing tea. Easy grower in light soil and full sun; re-seeds itself readily.

Clover - protection. Snakes supposedly avoid clover patches. Red clover makes a healing tea. Full sun to part shade; re-builds soil fertility. Bees love it.

Cyclamen - love, fertility, protection. Grow in bedroom for protection while sleeping, and outside to protect garden and house. Choose a variety hardy in your area. Fairly rich, porous soil with humus, moist when growing.

Fern - protection, love. Extremely powerful. Include in vases of flowers. Most prefer shady areas outdoors with some humidity. Various heights. Adiantum needs shade, steady moisture, and soil rich in humus. Dryopteris is drought tolerant and prefers partial shade; to two feet. Osmunda may grow to six feet (slowly) in moist, shady areas. Davallia is good for indoors and will tolerate occasional near-dryness.

Geranium (Geranium spp. a very pungent smell, the Pelargonium spp. less so) - love, healing, protection. Wear the flowers or add to "attract love" sachets. White for fertility, red for protection and to aid healing. Pink and red to protect house and dissuade snakes. Choose from fancy-leaf, ivy-leaf, and fragrant-leaf types. Needs sun and good, fast-draining soil; water when soil surface is somewhat dry.

Holly - protection. Slow growers, they will live happily in a pot for years with proper potting on. Prefers rich, slightly acid soil with good drainage, full to part sun, and ample water; mulch.

Honeysuckle - prosperity, clairvoyance. Ring green candles with the flowers to draw money. Lightly crush the flowers and rub on forehead before doing divination. Sun and average water. Many varieties, some without fragrance (pointless, I think).

Ivy - protection. Grow on walls of house or other building, but ensure that it does not attach itself to the building, as the acids excreted by the anchoring pads will eventually eat through brick and wood. Water thoroughly until it becomes established; it will become somewhat drought tolerant.

Jasmine - love, prosperity. Attracts spiritual love. Not all are fragrant. Regular soil, sun to part shade, regular watering and pruning.

Juniper - protection, love. Carry a sprig. A necklace with the mature berries will draw lovers; also works in anti-theft sachets. Grow by front and back doors. Height from six inches to sixty feet; wide variety to choose from. Needs good drainage. Consider bonsai.

Lettuce - protection if grown in garden; anaphrodisiac (cools lust); rub juice on forehead to relax. Red loose-head types are more resistant to insects, and attractive when mixed with pure green leaf.

Marigold (Calendula) - love. Gather a vase-full at noon and place in any room to bring renewed vigor to those in it. Grows one to two feet high. Sun, good drainage; remove old flowers to promote more buds.

Meadowsweet - love. Around house, in sachets, as cut flower.

Onions - protection. In the garden, and the fancy ones as cut-flowers indoors. Many fancy types. Sun and rich, deep sandy loam with ample moisture while growing.

Primroses - protection. In garden and in pots on front and back porches, especially red and blue ones. Prefer cool, moist shade.

Snapdragons - protection. Of the home, whether planted in pots outside on the porches, or as cut flowers indoors. If outside, step on a snapdragon flower when feeling threatened. Carry to see through others' deceit. Many colors and sizes in both "bell" and "snapping dragon" types. Good soil and sun; keep plants well watered, but do not water plants from above (to avoid potential rust spores).

Thistle - protection. Against thieves. Erect and prickly, all four feet of it. Full sun and good drainage; drought tolerant when established but better with a bit of water.

May She of the Garden and He of the Forest bless you in your growing!