🌱 How I Plant Meowi (머위): A Bare Root Beginner’s Guide

I don’t know about you, but the first time I pulled Meowi from the ground to ship it off bare root, I had this weird little worry — “What if it doesn’t make it?” Turns out, this plant is tougher than it looks. If you’ve got one of these buttery-leafed Korean beauties arriving in the mail, freshly yanked from the soil, don’t stress. I’ll walk you through exactly how I plant it — whether it’s going in a pot, a raised bed, or straight into a shady corner of the garden.

Let’s keep it simple. No fancy terms. Just dirt, roots, and some patience.

📦 Step 1: What to Do When Your Meowi Arrives

When that box hits your doorstep, don’t leave it hanging out in the sun. Bare root means it has zero soil on it — just roots and maybe a damp towel or some shredded paper.

Here’s what I do right away:

• Unwrap it gently — don’t tear into the roots. They should be tan, a little stringy, maybe some small buds on top.

• Trim off anything mushy or blackened — don’t worry, the healthy stuff is what matters.

• Soak those roots in a bowl of water for an hour or two. Not overnight — just enough to let the roots plump back up like they’ve had a long drink.

  
  

If life gets in the way and you can’t plant right away, wrap the roots in a damp paper towel, stick them in a bag, and tuck them in a cool place (NOT the freezer!). I’ve kept them like that for a day or two without issue, but sooner is always better.

🪴 Step 2: Choose a Spot (or a Pot)

Meowi isn’t fussy about location as long as it doesn’t bake in the sun. Think woodland vibes — morning light, afternoon shade, or even full shade if the soil is rich and damp.

• In the garden or raised bed: I prep a space that stays moist and gets dappled sunlight. If it’s hot and sunny where you are, pick a shady corner. Meowi will reward you with leaves the size of dinner plates — if you keep it cool and wet.

• In a pot: Go big or go home. Use a wide, deep container (12"–18" minimum) with good drainage holes. I fill mine with potting soil mixed with compost. This plant likes to sprawl, and it will — even in a container.

  
  

⚠️ A Quick Heads-Up: Meowi LOVES to Spread

Before we get too far, here’s something you should know: Meowi spreads like it means it. It grows by underground rhizomes — kind of like ginger or bamboo — and once it’s comfy, it’ll start sending out runners in all directions.

• In a garden bed, it can slowly take over an area if you don’t keep an eye on it. I’ve had it pop up a few feet away from where I originally planted it. Not overnight, but steadily.

• In a raised bed or pot, it’s much easier to control. That’s why I like starting it in a container or somewhere with borders. Makes it easy to enjoy the leaves without it wandering all over the place.

If you want to keep it in check in a garden bed, you can bury a root barrier, edge it with bricks or pavers, or just be ready to dig up and relocate any strays. And hey — that’s free new plants to share or sell.

🕳 Step 3: Planting Time

Alright, now it’s time to give Meowi a home.

1. Dig a hole or prep your pot. I aim for 6–8 inches deep — enough for the roots to spread out flat, not bunched up like spaghetti.

2. Lay the roots sideways in the hole. Meowi spreads by rhizomes, so it likes to stretch out horizontally.

3. Cover lightly with soil — just enough to hide the roots, maybe an inch over the crown. If you see buds or little shoots, they should be near the surface, not buried.

4. Press down gently — you’re tucking it in, not smothering it.

5. Water deep and slow — soak it good the first time so the soil settles around the roots.

   
   

If you’re planting more than one, space them a couple feet apart. Trust me — they get huge.

💧 Step 4: Water, Watch, and Wait

Meowi is a water lover. If it dries out, those big ol’ leaves will flop like a sad pancake.

• Keep the soil evenly moist — like a wrung-out sponge. In containers, I check daily and water as needed.

• Mulch around the plant (but not on top of the crown) to help hold in moisture. I use straw, pine needles, or whatever’s handy.

• Shade is your friend. Especially in summer. I’ve even used an umbrella on a freshly planted one when the sun got too intense — no shame in babying it a little that first week.

  
  

You’ll start to see little green shoots pop up soon. Once they get going, it’s like watching tiny umbrellas unfold.

🐌 Bonus Tips from My Patch

• Slugs love Meowi. Especially in shady, wet areas. I sprinkle crushed eggshells or set out shallow dishes of beer to trap ‘em. Works every time.

• Don’t fertilize right away. Compost in the planting hole is usually enough for year one. If it looks like it needs a pick-me-up later in summer, I might give it a light dose of fish emulsion.

• It spreads — fast if you let it. I like to dig up any offshoots once a year and either pot them up or share with a friend. Left alone, it could form a dense patch of nothing but Meowi — beautiful, but maybe more than you bargained for.

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❄️ Winter in Zone 5 or 6? Here's What I Do

This part’s easy. Meowi is cold-hardy. It goes to sleep in winter and pops back up when it’s good and ready.

In the garden or raised bed:

• Let the frost do its thing. Once the leaves die back, I chop them off at the base.

• In late fall, I throw a 3–4 inch blanket of mulch over the root area. Leaves, straw, pine needles — whatever I’ve got handy.

• Come spring, I pull the mulch back and boom — little alien buds start poking through.

In a pot:

• If you can, move it into an unheated garage or shed after the top dies back. Just don’t forget it! Water sparingly — just enough to keep it from drying to dust.

• No garage? Wrap the pot with burlap or bubble wrap and tuck it somewhere sheltered. I’ve even buried a pot up to the rim in the garden and mulched over it — worked like a charm.

  
  

🌸 A Final Note

Don’t be surprised if Meowi sends up little flower clusters in early spring before the leaves arrive. They’re kinda weird, kinda pretty — like little cabbages with a perfume. You can snip them or let ‘em bloom. Totally up to you.

Meowi is one of those plants that just feels like home. Big leaves, soft shade, steady growth. Once it gets comfy, it’ll keep coming back year after year — and maybe even make some babies for you to share.