If you’re tired of the wooden stakes in your plant pots tilting, rotting and breaking, inventor Bill Stevenson of Wilmington has a solution. SuperStakes are rods of recycled plastic that fit into a base placed in the bottom of a pot. The base not only holds the stake—it aerates and drains the soil. The result: Plants grow faster, taller and stronger, indoors or out. When it’s time to re-pot, simply lift the assembly to remove the plant and roots, then transfer to a new container.
“I’ve had this idea in my head forever,” says Stevenson. “I just love plants.” When he broke a beloved dieffenbachia while repotting a few years ago, he built a wooden prototype by inserting a wooden dowel into a base of plywood. “The plant stayed like that forever,” and the idea for a more marketable product was born.
Now SuperStakes are available at local garden centers, and soon to spread. “My whole family has lived through this with me,” says Stevenson, who is perhaps best-known as former owner of the legendary Stone Balloon in Newark. “My granddaughter even offered me $10,” he laughs.
Look for SuperStakes at Richardson’s Garden Center, Ronny’s Garden World and All About the Garden. (598-1734) —Mark Nardone
