One of the most common container gardening myths is the use of gravel at the bottom of a pot to improve drainage. Not only is this pointless…it has the OPPOSITE effect! Instead, use high-quality potting soil, learn how to actually water your plants, and make sure you choose the right container.
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Thoughts about using gravel at the bottom of a pot with no hole to create a drainage reservoir? Obv, drainage holes are better, but when you have a large indoor pot that you can't move, what's the solution?
I don't put gravel in my pot to improve drainage, but to prevent dirt from coming out too easily when i move my pots… never heard people saying that it would do anything else.
Love the gardening video esp the no dig series… question, can no dig be applied to indoor container houseplant?
Hey, anyone knows the name of the hanging plant to the upmost right? The one hanging all the way to the table
I am a professional gardener. That is just no true. Keep drainage, I never had plants dying from having a drain, I did have plants die from not having drain…
What about putting mulch at the bottom?
I put a crock at the bottom to stop the compost falling out the hole.
Gravel in the bottom does stop the compost clogging up drainage holes on plastic pots though.
What do you think about using a mix of hydroton clay pebbles and soil at the bottom?
Does adding sand help with drainage?
when you said put an old sponge on the bottom, then i thought to myself what a grand idea to quicken the root rot
what studies showed that gravel on bottom was bad? citation needed.
why planet earth's plants don't have root rot on a greater scale, when our planet is a little bit of soil, alot of water and alot of rocks?
silly video
The channel of misinformation and wasting money.
Still a gonna do it
What about those brown clay things (leca)? It's the same material as clay pots which help me with plants that love water but need tons of air and drainage. So it's different than pebbles
your logic, like the pots, has holes in it
how about mixing evenly the hydroton with potting media in the pot ? not at the botom.
elvin
KL
I was taught (Thanks Mom=)) that drainage holes were critical, therefore make sure to put a little bit of, usually broken up pots or small rocks, over/around the holes to ensure they did not get blocked by compaction of the soil over time. It has never failed me. I have not tried using rock without holes, that sounds like a recipe for rot.
Gravel doesn't improve drainage. It helps prevent soil washing out of the pot. A screen would work as well.
You reference that "studies have found", Iwould love to get some insight into what studies you're referring to as from what I gathered from my years to obtain a masters degree in geotechnical (soil science) engineering is that what you're saying is fundamentally wrong in terms of soil drainage. If you would like ill gladly dig into it for you 🙂
The tldr of it, all soil permeability testing standards require a gravel like base as it ensure unimpeded water flow. Have a look a the "constant head test" within soil mechanics.
Given that your point boils down to "don't over water your plants" is 100% true, I believe the goal of adding gravel is to make sure that when you do over water your plants, that water is as free as possible to leave the soil mass.
U use gravel for the soil won’t get compact and the roots can move better it’s like using earth worms to turn the soil
Most bonsai pot got very large drainage hole.
I hate politics so much .
i do bigger pieces of gravel at bottom, and rest of them pumice
Or. The solution is to water less frequently, and not worry about how much water. The more gravel to soil there is, the less total water will be held by the soil and will dry sooner. So long as you let it dry! I'm sure some plants prefer one over the other. In your example, you said there was a drainage hole also. Yes, there should be a drainage hole.
What about raising cloth pots off of the drip pans? Would that help aleviate fungus and or Mold growth?
Ok so how about putting the gravel in the drain dish instead? That way the planter is slightly elevated and the water can drain better. Because if you just put the planter on the flat dish it can block the drainage holes. Good idea or nah?
No drainage holes = root rot = dead plant = spending more money again to drown another plant. Rinse . Repeat…
What about those little pieces of screen, so the soil doesn't all fall out of the hole when you put it in/water it? Are those OK?
I'm adding a pumice on the bottom of my pot.
That dude gave me the hebie jibees..