Drainage for pot plants

loulou41

Do you need to put pebbles or broken clay pots at the bottom if it is a plastic pot? I have used large pebbles in a clay pot and it has blocked the hole. Thanks

Kay_Peel

Its very easy if you use broken crocks - old broken terracotta pots, broken mugs and saucers or even some polystyrene broken up into smaller pieces. You want the water to escape through the soil and out of the holes, but you don't want all the soil to wash away.

Lay the pieces over the hole but without blocking it off completely - ideally you want a curved piece of crockery that you might get from a mug or a pot.

Then you can put a small layer of stones (not too many) over the crocks - and away you go! :j

Jake'sGran

I sometimes use pieces of polystyrene broken into pieces and if I am trying to economise with the good compost I have a layer of two inches or so. Seems to do the job well.

dollparts

what would you need to use in the bottom of a terracotta pot or a plastic pot with no holes?

Kay_Peel

A pot with no holes isn't really suitable. The water won't drain out of it and it will be full of stagnating water, drowning the plant. You will need to drill holes in the bottom.

savemoney

I rarely put stones or broken plant pots of clay variety. I do however make sure pots have drainage holes. I tend to water plants daily in Summer so they need drainage

dollparts

Why would they sell pots with no holes if they are so critical to the survival of whatever you are growing?

As if I didn't have enough to get my head around, now I have to get drilling as well!

savemoney

If plastic posts dont have holes just drill some in with power drill on slow speed about 8mm will do and several or use a red hot nail under a gas flame using a pair of pliers to save run risk of breaking pot, obviously being very cautious

earthlysparky

savemoney wrote: »

If plastic posts dont have holes just drill some in with power drill on slow speed about 8mm will do and several or use a red hot nail under a gas flame using a pair of pliers to save run risk of breaking pot, obviously being very cautious

or use a gimlet
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2442133

emerald21

dollparts wrote: »

Why would they sell pots with no holes if they are so critical to the survival of whatever you are growing?

As if I didn't have enough to get my head around, now I have to get drilling as well![/QUOTE

I was just going to ask about this too till i saw yours lol. It doesn t make sense does it. Guess i ll have to dig out the electric drill and have a go so i can put my strawberry plants in some fancy pots i bought from poundland- say no more

casper_g

dollparts wrote: »

Why would they sell pots with no holes if they are so critical to the survival of whatever you are growing?

To save money? I know it doesn't seem like you'd save much, but if you're trying to sell a reasonably large pot for £1 then every penny counts and increasing the complexity of the plastic moulding may mean it will cost more to produce, even if the simpler part uses fractionally more material.