How to Plant in a Pot With No Drainage Holes
Posted by Jason Wyrwicz on May 27th 2015
Wondering why so many of your potted plants have drooped, wilted, or just plain bitten the dust?
Decorative planters often don't come with drainage holes, and you may not want to drill holes into your beautiful new container! But when packing potted plants into different pots and containers, it is important to ensure that you have proper drainage – otherwise, your plant can easily succumb to overwatering. Being waterlogged can prevent your plant from getting enough oxygen, and as the roots sit in standing water, they begin to rot, making it impossible for the plant to obtain any nutrients.
The following guide will help walk you through the steps of how you can create proper drainage of a potted plant, even if you are planting it in a container with no drainage holes.
- Gather river rocks and stones to arrange at the bottom of the planter. An inverted pot may also be placed inside the larger planter. This creates a barrier between where the plant's roots will be and the area where the water will drain. Don't use things like soil and sand at the bottom – this won't allow adequate drainage and can cause root rot.
- Place a plastic pot or liner with holes inside of the large planter on top of the rocks/inverted pot. If the plastic pot sits more than 1" below the rim of the decorative planter, add more materials to the bottom of the planter. If it sits too tall above the rim, trim excess plastic or remove a couple of rocks from the bottom to even things out. If you can't find a plastic pot that is the right size, you can use a variety of different plastic containers – just make sure to drill holes in the bottom first!
- Gradually pour in the potting soil and place your plant at the soil line about 2" below the rim of the decorative planter. Continue to scoop in soil around the plant, gently pressing it down with your fingers.
- Water and wait! Give the soil some time to absorb the moisture and make it more accessible to your plant's roots.
- Carefully remove the plastic pot or liner from the decorative planter and pour out any excess water. Standing water can lead to bug infestations and mildew, so it is important to drain your planter when you water.
Voila! Your decorative planter is ready to go. Repeat steps 4 and 5 each time you water, and look forward to displaying a healthy, thriving plant!
Now that you know how to sidestep the drainage issue, browse through our selection of decorative garden planters and flower pots at Pots, Planters & More and get planting!
