Table of Contents
Why Drainage is Important for Plants. If water can’t drain properly, it can cause damage to your potted plants. Packing Peanuts. As you learn what to use for drainage in pots, you can reuse polystyrene foam packing peanuts as filler for large pots. Wood Mulch. Landscape Rocks. Plastic Bottles. Soil Amendments.
What do you put under plant pots?
Line a drainage saucer with a layer of pebbles, gravel or sand, which allows the container to drain freely and prevents the bottom of the pot from standing in water.
What do you put under outdoor potted plants?
Use something called pot feet Aliases of pot risers & deck protectors…. These are usually stone, concrete, or pottery and they simply sit under the pot holding it up about an inch from the ground so that drainage holes remain clear and airflow is allowed under the pot.
What can I put under my plants to protect the floor?
Potted plants need a platform to keep water off floors and decks. It takes no time at all for water — or even the moisture from the bottom of a pot — to mar the surface permanently. You can protect surfaces with a rolling caddy. Plant caddies come in a wide range of styles and materials.
What can I use instead of a plant saucer?
Similarly trim down cleaned plastic soda or water bottles to use under smaller pots. Plastic refrigerator storage containers that have lost their lids make a cheap alternative to plant saucers. Some premade pie crusts or purchased pies have sturdy pie plates that make good drip trays for single containers.
Do you need a tray for indoor plants?
So, why do plant pots need saucers? Whilst they aren’t necessary, plant pots use saucers to collect the water that drains from your pot. Without this, it can easily spill onto your carpets, floors and furniture. So after each watering, your saucer will capture the excess water, preventing any spillage in your home.
Do you need a saucer for outdoor plants?
Therefore, you need plant saucers under all your outdoor plants. There are a few ways that potted plants without saucers could lead to expensive deck or patio repairs. If you have a wood deck, plant saucers help protect the boards from excess water that can cause warping, water damage, and rot.
Should I put anything in the bottom of my planter?
The myth is, gravel or rocks in the bottom of a plant pot will improve drainage. This is false. Do not put rocks in the bottom of plant pots. Putting gravel or rocks in your plant pots with drainage holes does NOT improve drainage, it instead increases the water saturation zone that leads to root rot.
How do I get good drainage in my pots?
Placing a layer of gravel or broken pottery pieces on the bottom of the container, below the soil, can help stop the flow of dirt through larger holes. Alternatively, instead of using gravel to prevent the potting mix from escaping through the drainage holes, use a landscaping fabric.
Should I put rocks in the bottom of my planter?
In general, it’s not necessary to put rocks in the bottom of plant pots. One rock to cover the drainage hole is enough – just enough so that the soil doesn’t leach out of the bottom but water can flow freely through the pot. Putting rocks in plant pots doesn’t aid drainage or improve air circulation.
How do I protect my patio potted plants?
5 Ways to Prevent Deck Staining from Container Gardens 1.) Opt for Hanging Planters and Deck Planters. 2.) Place Potted Plants on Plant Stands. 3.) Elevate Off Surface with Pot Feet or Risers. 4.) Frequently Change Your Pot Placement. 5.) Keep up with Regular Deck Maintenance.
How do I protect my floor with indoor plants?
You can consider plastic trays, small cork coasters, hanging plants, or lifted metal stands that are great solutions to keep your floors dry and your plants happy! No matter what your floors are (hardwood, tile, laminate, or carpet) you still should avoid dragging your plants across your floors.
What is surface protection for pots?
SurfaceSaver® Prevents Water Stains, Keeps Plants Healthy Protect your deck, patio, porch floor or front stoop from stains caused by water drainage and condensation under potted plants. Surface Savers lift plants so water can drain freely from drainage holes, helping to keep plants healthy.
Do pots need holes?
What is the purpose of a drainage hole? All plants need water to survive. Drainage holes allow excess water to seep out of pots after watering, ensuring that water does not pool at the base of a pot, helping to protect sensitive roots from rot, fungus and bacteria.
What can I put under my planter to catch water?
Saucers under plants are shallow dishes used to catch excess water that drains from a container planting. While growers are sometimes able to find matching pot and saucer sets, it is more common that containers do not come with one, and the saucer must be bought separately.
Can you water potted plants from the bottom?
If your plant is becoming root bound, moisture might not soak into the soil and may run down the sides of the planter instead. Watering potted plants from the bottom eliminates these problems and adds moisture to the soil in a more efficient way.
