How do planters drain

Share with us in the comments. Happy planting! Holiday workshops have landed! Core Collection. Colorful Accents. Limited-Time Offerings. Houseplants for Pickup. Mounted Plants. Plants in Glass. Plant Craft Supply Kits. Plant Accessories. Plant Supplies. Gift Ideas. Best for Beginners. Pistils Merch. Gift Cards. My cart 0. Here are a few things to remember about keeping plants in pots without drainage. Another benefit to using aeration stone is that it evens out the moisture levels in your pot.

Because it absorbs water, the aeration stone acts as a reservoir from which the soil can draw moisture once it becomes too dry. Not all soils are created equal, you should look for a potting mix with a variety of particulate sizes that allows water to pass through, and still offers those all-important air pockets for root growth.

The goal is to assess the moisture closer to the roots, not just at the top of the pot. When watering in a planter without a drain hole it is even MORE important to feel the soil prior to watering to avoid soggy soil and water build up at the bottom of the pot. A soil probe is an efficient tool to easily assess the soil moisture deep in your pot. It gathers samples of the soil at varying depths so you can determine if the plant is ready for a watering.

If you follow the steps of adding a drainage layer, using healthy soil, and monitoring moisture levels, a planter without a drainage hole can be a perfectly healthy home for your indoor plant. Shop Small Plants. Small Planters. Once all the available soil air space fills up, then excess water drains into the gravel below.

So gravel in the bottom does little to keep soil above it from being saturated by overwatering. Damp gravel placed in a saucer underneath the pot may help by increasing the humidity in the immediate area of the plants as the water evaporates from the gravel surfaces.

Self-watering pots use various methods to effectively draw water from a bottom reservoir into the soil without causing the soil to become too wet. Water may be drawn up into the soil by capillary action or wicking through small soil columns, rope wicks, or the use of moisture sensors.

Self-watering containers are especially useful for weekend cottages and people who do not have time to check water needs daily.

Consistently available water is great for vegetables, and tropical houseplants. Plants that need to dry out like thick-leaved cactus and succulents do not usually warrant the extra cost of a self-watering container.

For more information, use a web search engine using the keywords "self-watering planter" or "self-watering container" or "earth box. Decorative pots and wraps without drainage holes. Sometimes you fall in love with a wonderful container that has no drainage hole. This would be the perfect time to find a pot liner to fit inside so both you and the plants are happy.

In addition to decorative pots, decorative foil or plastic pot wraps are a form of double potting. The wrap keeps water from leaking out where it is not wanted.

To protect the plant from becoming prone to root rot, pierce a hole in the bottom of the wrapper or foil. Then place the container on a saucer. Or, take the container to a sink, remove the wrapper, and then water. Let the water drain freely out the holes in the bottom of the pot.

After the pot finishes draining, replace the wrapper. Changing seasonal displays. Double potting makes changing out seasonal plants a breeze. Fresh plants are easily rotated in and tired ones out of a large landscape container holding multiple plants. Double potting makes it possible to sink individual potted plants into the landscape or remove them without disturbing the roots.

Combining plants with differing requirements. Plants that have different soil drainage aeration requirements can be combined in a landscape planter if they are in their own separate pots. This allows different watering practices for each plant.