Problems with plant containers on carpets...

RainbowsInTheSpray

Does anyone else have problems with keeping plant containers on carpets? I have some lovely, large house plants which are in similarly large pots/containers. They are far too tall to be put on a table or even a low support and so must be placed on the floor. Obviously, there is an issue with weight and indentation into the carpet but this is not my main difficulty.

It seems that, although I use (plastic) drip trays conscientiously beneath the pots, there is always some kind of slight built-up of moisture/dampness beneath them. I may be wrong but take this to be caused by the transmitted cooling effect through the plastic of the drip trays whenever water does accumulate in them.This has sometimes attracted carpet moth attack in the past... or at the very least resulted in discoloration of the carpet and fairly permanent marking. I'm at a loss as to what to do.

Has anyone had the same experience and found a solution?

Emmia

Could you place the pots on a very low stand that raises them slightly off the floor, allowing air to circulate?

Something like these (but this could probably be made for less £)

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1058112607/handmade-plant-stand-or-side-table-in

We've made a low table like this with a shelf and some hairpin legs, it's really easy to do.

Or pot feet of the sort you might use in the garden (I note amazon has indoor ones).

cornishchick

I have had the slight discolouration, I assumed similar, so I had my plant on a very low stand, not more than an inch or so, it was those little blocks from the cheap jenga games . just to keep airflow. hope that helps.

RainbowsInTheSpray

Yes, I had the thought of a very low stand, too. Sadly, I can't find anything resembling that online to buy. I'd be reduced to the 'little blocks' suggestion which is a good one but less than ideal.

cornishchick

had a sudden flash of inspiration. 
how about a trivet, the ones for hot pans! can be cheap, and in lots of different materials and patterns and sizes..
In fact I have one in the junk drawer, I am going to drag mine out and see if it works on a small pot I have ..

RainbowsInTheSpray

Yes, that kind of thing. The trivet would have to be 30cm in diameter for my things. I have just had the thought of cutting a support out of a very thick (1cm?) cork mat. The cork shouldn't transmit any change in temperature, I would think.

Emmia

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

Yes, that kind of thing. The trivet would have to be 30cm in diameter for my things. I have just had the thought of cutting a support out of a very thick (1cm?) cork mat. The cork shouldn't transmit any change in temperature, I would think.

I note that amazon have a number of trivet-esque plant stands on wheels which would raise the pots slightly off the carpet  - wouldn't the cork mat idea potentially absorb moisture and then transmit that to the carpet it is in contact with.

Incidentally, are the saucers you're using glazed or plastic? Or just standard terracotta ones? I've found that terracotta (unglazed) tends to be slightly porous, and have had mould / damp underneath them on windowsills

DesignerJumble

How about gluing those little pot feet from garden centres onto the bottom of the plastic drip trays.

RainbowsInTheSpray

Emmia said:

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

Yes, that kind of thing. The trivet would have to be 30cm in diameter for my things. I have just had the thought of cutting a support out of a very thick (1cm?) cork mat. The cork shouldn't transmit any change in temperature, I would think.

I note that amazon have a number of trivet-esque plant stands on wheels which would raise the pots slightly off the carpet  - wouldn't the cork mat idea potentially absorb moisture and then transmit that to the carpet it is in contact with.

Incidentally, are the saucers you're using glazed or plastic? Or just standard terracotta ones? I've found that terracotta (unglazed) tends to be slightly porous, and have had mould / damp underneath them on windowsills

They are glazed ceramic pots but, as stated, with plastic drip saucers underneath. In theory there should be no contact between any water and the carpet, but...

Slinky

Have you got any leftover carpet you could make a small mat out of?

oystercatcher

Slinky said:

Have you got any leftover carpet you could make a small mat out of?

If no carpet scraps perhaps a carpet shop would let you have some samples .