June 20, 2022, 12:48 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Plants cultivated in pots require drainage to prevent waterlogging, which most plants cannot tolerate. Here’s what materials you need for drainage and how to create it yourself.
If water accumulates in a flowerpot or container, the plant can die. Due to waterlogging, the entire soil is submerged–the plant’s roots can’t breathe and rot or die. To prevent this, a drainage system should be installed in the pot. This prevents water from collecting in the soil and promotes drainage. Here’s an overview of how to properly build a drainage system and what to do if you don’t have all the materials available.
What Do You Need for a Drainage System in a Flowerpot?
If you want to install a drainage system in a container, make sure the vessel has at least one or more drainage holes. This allows excess water to drain. You will also need:
- Clay shards: Old pots can be recycled for this, or alternatively, pebbles can be used.
- Expanded clay: These small pellets are made from ground, low-lime clay. They absorb water but don’t become completely saturated.
- Fleece: This layer prevents the drainage system from becoming clogged with soil.
How Do You Proceed?
Creating a drainage system in a flowerpot is not complicated. Here’s how to do it:
- First, place a clay shard or a large pebble over the hole at the bottom of the pot.
- Next, fill the container with a two to three centimeter thick layer of expanded clay. Alternatively, gravel can be used here.
- Cover this layer with a large piece of fleece. This serves as protection from the potting soil and also filters the water.
- Finally, add soil on top of the fleece, and the plant can be potted as usual.
What to Consider When Repotting Potted Plants
Four Common Mistakes in Caring for Pot Plants
Yellow Tips on Aloe Vera? Here’s What Could Be Causing It
Lifehack for a Drainage System in a Flowerpot
If you don’t have the right materials for a drainage system on hand, you can use a household item from the kitchen. For the alternative drainage system, you’ll need a few old sponges–the number depends on the size of the flowerpot. Hobby gardeners should cut the sponges into small pieces and place them at the bottom of the flowerpot, just as they would with expanded clay or other drainage materials.
Also interesting: Which Plants Are Suitable for Expanded Clay
The sponges not only create space in the pot, allowing air to circulate more easily, but they also absorb excess water. They even have an advantage for the potting soil, as the stored water acts as a kind of reserve for the soil, which dries out less quickly.
The same principle works with old corks. They can be placed whole in the flowerpot. They also create more space at the bottom of the vessel, ensuring adequate ventilation. They can also store water, though not as effectively as sponges.