rock , crushed rock , and standardised material are tout as effective ways to put up drainage for potted plants — but in actuality , they do more hurt than good .
Potted plant gardeners have probably heard that put rock in the posterior of plantation owner can improve soil drain andprevent root rot . But despite the pervasive advice to use gravel , pebbles , clayware shard , and other coarse materials in plant containers , study have proven that this practice does not better drainage . The method acting is not only ineffective at providing drainage for potted plant — that coarse layer actually exacerbates soggy soil conditions , the very diametrical of democratic opinion .
Why Rocks Don’t Work as Drainage for Potted Plants
In theory , bestow rocks to containers to facilitate drainage for potted flora seems to make sensory faculty . If you ’ve ever watched rainwater puddling alfresco , you know water run through gravel quickly but often consortium in soil and becomes mud . When applied to potted plants , it ’s consistent to think that pee would move quicker through more poriferous fabric , like gravel — but this does n’t materialize if the water first has to percolate through alayer of soil . H2O does n’t move easily between more than one fabric . In the casing of a potted plant with a finely textured potting mix atop a gravel stratum , water moves through the potting mix just fine but stop when it encounter the level of crushed rock .
To understand why this pass off , ideate identify a porous sponge on top of some gravel . If you pour water on top of that poriferan , the ironic sponge will absorb the water and exposit upwards against gravitational attraction . Only after the sponger is completely saturated and ca n’t absorb more water will it allow water system to dribble into the gravel beneath it .
In potted plants , potting mixing do like a juiceless poriferan . It pulls water upward against gravity , causing water to hang around just above the gravel air in what is known as a light water table . The potting admixture will only release water to the gravel beneath it when it is so waterlogged that it ca n’t imbibe any more wet . Therefore , when you add crushed rock or other common materials to the substructure of your raft , water mess about around plant roots alternatively of draining , which increases the likelihood ofroot rotdeveloping .
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
How to Improve Soil Drainage for Potted Plants
Although placing rock-and-roll at the bottom of plant containers wo n’t meliorate drain , there are other ways to ensure your industrial plant do n’t sit down in soggy soil .
Choose the Right Pots
A pot with adequate drainage holes is all-important for growing healthy industrial plant . you’re able to fashion gob in containers without drain openings with an electric drill and a Freemasonry bit . cut through the drain ports with a paper coffee tree filter or cover mesh if you ’re implicated about soil sneak out of the hole and making a mess .
Amend Your Potting Mix
Potting mixes unremarkably contain ingredients like common sand , vermiculite , and perlite , which serve help drainage for potted plants . However , if you ’d like to advance the drainage electric potential of bagged dirt , you may mix more of these amendments into your potting mix . tally extra compostto potting mixes will also improve drainage .
Repot Your Plants
Over time , potting intermixture become compress , which slows water drainage . If your pots are n’t run out well , it may be time torepot your plants .
Good Ways to Use Rocks with Potted Plants
While gravel , pebble , and rock wo n’t do much to promote drainage for potted plant , there are a few other ways to put sway to habituate for your houseplants orcontainer garden .
Make a Pebble Tray
Tropical houseplants often sputter indoors due to low humidity grade , but if you have some rock on deal , you may make a simple pebble tray toboost humidity . append pebble to a 2-dimensional tray or home then pour out some water into the tray so the body of water degree is just below the top of the rocks . Place a plant pot on top of the pebble tray — the water in the tray will bestow moisture to the melodic line around your plant as it evaporate .
Keep Critters Out of Your Potted Plants
Cats , squirrels , and other animals can make a pain of themselves by digging in potted plants . Keep these creatures out of your plants by adding a layer of pebbles on top of your potting soil . The rocks will make it more hard to paw through the territory and the animals will go elsewhere to savvy .
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
