Drilling holes in pots

Hello

I hope to use 3 new earthenware type containers (they were for kitchen use for tea, coffee, and sugar but have not been used) for 3 plants early next year.

None of them has holes in the bottoms. Is it easy to drill holes in them, or can I leave the bottoms sealed and only use a small amount of water that would naturally evaporate?

Thanks!

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

Easy enough, use a masonry bit, but don't have the drill on hammer

 

Many thanks to you both - good ideas!

I am not sure how you thank those who have replied.

 

Depending on the plant, and how tolerant it is to over/under watering, you could go with Loofah's plan, but put about a centimeter thick layer of polystyrene packing nut things in, or gravel, or just about anything, then the plant in a normal pot sitting on top of that. It would just add a bit if a buffer for excess water to drain into rather than having the roots permanently sat in water.

 

Steve , if you are using them for house plants it's probably safer not to drill they should not need a drain hole . You would need to take some care watering them.

 

...And here's one I drilled earlier

Cuttings

Post #14

 

Thanks again - nice photo.

Yes, they are house plants so I will be cautious about watering them.

Steve

 

... And here's one without drainage holes.




No, I didn't just lop off a thick branch and bunged it in.

It actually took over a year to grow to this size from a tiny two-leafed cutting.

At the bottom is a 1cm layer of perlite to take care of drainage.

 

Great photo and plant.

Perlite only? 1cm doesn't sound deep.

 

I think containers with no drainage holes should have some charcoal added to the compost mix.

Or am I overcomplicating things ?

I grow a few house plants in undrained pots, but it works best with plants that can take arid conditions, that way, you can underwater rather than overwater, and get away with it.

 

No, not just perlite because that would float when watered.

On top of the perlite is 4cm of spent multipurpose compost, and a pinch of Gro-Sure slow release fertiliser granules once the leaves turned a light yellow-green colour (signs of nitrogen deficiency).

 

But, if they're for houseplants what's the problem?
All indoor plant pot holders come with no drainage holes.

Watering is done by the method i've always used......... Water the plant in its pot and stand on a draining board then return it to its pot holder after an hour.

 

The silent killer of plants in pots with no drainage holes over time will be the toxic build up of carbonates and salts from tap water.

Whether or not charcoal mitigates this, I don't know. However, charcoal does act well as a compost amendment - which is usually a good thing.