STOP Putting Gravel At The Bottom Of Your Pots!
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- čas přidán 5. 08. 2024
- 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'd rather do a pot-in-pot, one with drainage that the plant is actually in, and another aesthetic pit on the outside
Add perlite and vermiculite to the soil and measure how many litres you water in, and how many days it usually takes to dry out appropriately. Build the soil to suit your needs.
Having a pot with no drainage hole is the problem. You're planting in a decorative pot that probably should have glasd beads or marbles in it and not a plant.
I added charcoal to an indoor pot. Seemed to help quite a bit.
Cynthia K Godoy, ASID that’s a good idea, I’ll have to try that. Gonna be hard to integrate considering I have about 50 indoor plants…
No gravel in my pot, but I did give my plant a pet rock to keep it company 🥺
That's so cute
I am guilty of that too!!! XD
Lol same I put 2 rocks on my 2 succulent pots fnfnfn
That is cute
That is ADORABLE
Very important to note that using a terracotta pot also helps decrease root rot as it naturally "absorbs" the extra water out of the soil, quicker with outdoor plants. It's what clay does.
Only true terracotta.
Fabric pots do it even better, it all depends on what you’re growing and how much drainage it needs.
Ooohh. I had kinda a different view on the terracotta ones for such a long time, but I guess I should get more terracotta pots, lol.
Apparently I’ve never thought that habit was to eliminate overwatering. My grandmother always put a shard of a broken pot over the drainage hole to slow potting soil from being lost while the water is running through. The shard placed in a curve over the hole allowed for plenty drainage. Once established the soil pretty much stabilized and was no longer an issue, but the shard didn’t cause any issues, so.. So I do it too. Her plants were amazing.
My Dear old Mum did exactly the same and it worked for her so I do it myself.
I've tried gravel drainage, no gravel, and what works best for me is exactly what you said- just one rock or shard over the drainage hole. It's my go-to now.
I also do it to prevent soil from draining out and never thought it to be associated with controlling overwatering.
Very smart!
I think this depends where you live and how far you are in control of the watering. Here in the UK we get a lot of rain. Outdoor pots are going to get saturated - frequently. I've had plants that have been in pots for years and the soil changes a lot over time. The best compost can become a black, sticky mess given time and the right conditions and without rocks at the bottom of the pot, the drainage hole would block and the plant would become waterlogged. No question. These days I use coir+compost+perlite for almost everything and just vary the ratios and amendments depending on the needs of the plant, but still would never pot out a plant without crocking it - I use a layer of clay pebbles. Works well.
You can simply put something over the hole to keep it open 🙂
Great point! I live in northern NV where it's dry all year around, hot or cold. It works in my favor regarding the point of planting in none drainage pots. Just requires adjustments. The dryness absorbs the moisture in the soil quickly. Otherwise there is the option of adding light charcoal, in the right measurements adding rocks at the bottom etc.
When saying “ research says” it would be wise to say where and who you got your research from, for the individual to come to there own conclusion
Henry Darcy soil physics in the 1800s, or Google the resulting conclusions drawn from that :)
Epic Gardening That is one of the laziest answers I have heard in a while. You want us to listen to your videos but google the research you quote. Speechless. I am going to exercises the rule of thumb of not saying anything at all if I cant say anything nice.
@@bobbico03 Is that a comment someone posted on your videos once before.... or havent you posted any before? ;)
InquiryTeaching So you’re making a comment. Are you saying I can only make a comment, if I have made a video? Are you saying, only people with videos can make any opinion or comments in all of CZcams?
More importantly, what part of my opinion is false or wrong or misleading? Please do say? Did he explain his “research says”? Did I lie about something in my comment?
I did something better than make a video. I have actually planted several plants with rocks at the bottom all through out my life, I have personal experience with this, and all the pots have all been fine. There is nothing wrong with putting rocks at the bottom of a pot, putting gravel specifically, I haven’t tried, it is a specific material, you need to buy it from someone in specific, and it often not a gardening section, it is the construction section, that specific material (gravel) is probably used for some other reason and can behave different in pots. Rocks on the other hand are easy to find and have heard this rule of thumb “add a layer of rocks at the bottom” plenty of times. When you put a level of rocks it keeps the soil from coming out of the bottom of the draining hole, period. That is what many people say “it helps with drainage”. Not that there is a magical layer of water and rocks, not that it helps you not over water. You can have good drainage in a pot.... and still over water a plant!!?? The drainage will not prevent someone from over watering a plant every single minute will it?
So please do tell me how I am not allowed to comment because I don’t have any videos. Do people have to be a politician to question politics? Or have a science degree to disagree with questionable science? You are headed down a path of authoritarianism and it seems you are happy to subjugate to anything or anyone that has a magical title. Thanks but no thanks, I don’t need permission from you to make a comment.
;) :) ;)
@@bobbico03 u just come off as a hater that's why your inquiry is a bit...mmm nasty u get what u give..maybe find a better way to ask a question to somebody who takes time out of his day to help people he doesn't know.. communication is everything. "It's better to be nice then to be right"
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.
My mom must know your mom.
Exactly. The rocks are to keep the soil from washing out of the drainage holes.
@@billsedutto8824 Right. A shard over a hole helps. A LAYER of shards is disaster waiting to happen.
Your mom is right. Don't listen to this stupid.
I do this too. The idea randomly popped in my head years ago and I’ve been doing it ever since. It not only helps prevent the soil from washing out, but also from clogging the drainage hole.
Here in Japan everytime I buy soil from the depo, the packaging always says to gravel the planter. Like each and every one of them. Every product in Japan has manual printed on the packaging. So I automatically think that’s not just myth but an actual rule of thumb. Huh interesting.
Yeah, he does not say where his info comes from either.
He is not taking into consideration some of us live in the UK we have to add rocks and sand to soil or the rain happens 90% of the year the plants all drown so he is wrong xxxxx Ive learned through experience...... like you have ::))
I watched this with interest as I always put pot shards and gravel in the bottom when repotting. The explanation given didn’t really convince me to change my habit.
Do the roots not grow into the pieces and get damaged when you repot? I’d think they’d cut the roots.
@@ebrietas7474 I haven’t noticed that being a problem.
I think that too, if i have a pot that is too deep for the plant, but i still want to use it, it makes sense to put material that doesn't retain water at the bottom to make the pot smaller in a sense. In that specific case, the pot need to have drainage hole and i would probably put medium size river rock below to fill the extra space. It's a hack to implement the "don't use a pot too big for the plant or the roots will rot" advice.
Think about it like this: water sticks to water. Don't believe me? Fill a cup to the brim with water and drop a penny in it. Then another penny. See how many pennies you can drop in there, and a few pennies in you'll notice the water taking a dome shape because of the surface tension- the water is sticking to water. Same thing with really dry soil not absorbing water right away. This effect is the same for the gravel and such at the bottom of your pot; the water really doesn't want to go in there unless the soil literally CAN'T hold any more.
@@animemaniac9717 Still is practical for the other points people have said here. Just not the amount he is talking about and for different reasons. First is to make the pot smaller so plant isn't overpotted. Second is so plant isn't overwatered because drainage hole gets soil compacted and clogged or slightly clogged. Second doesn't require much and I don't think is anywhere near the amount he is talking about.
I add gravel at the bottom of plastic pots to weight it down and keep the wind from blowing it over. That’s why I do it 🤷🏽♂️
insomni40 that’s what the dirt is for.
@@VAULT-TEC_INC. Sometimes the dirt is not enough, specially if the container is small 😬🤷
When I want to weigh the pot down, I just add a few large-ish decorative stones on top of the soil around the plant stem, instead of in the soil. Most of the time it's sufficient.
@@Etianen7 Not enough for huracane season . All my pots with gravel at the bottom survive well if I move them next to my walls but the ones with stones on top they get knocked down bc the size of the tops catch the wind and off they go all over the yard ☹️
That's what I do it for. Soil mixes in after watering too.
I put gravel in the bottom to reduce the amount of soil I have to use. Soil is expensive, and a lot of pots are much taller than they need to be. Additionally, it can significantly reduce the weight of the pot if you use large clay pieces or recycled plastic pieces to take up space at the bottom of the pot, rather than it being all dirt. But this is interesting information that I'll have to keep in mind!
Mariah Murphy I just found out that you can use plastic water bottles to help fill in the space and it is good for recycling!
@@laurastricklin5837 be sure to put soil at the bottom of the plastics. If moisture stayed in the bottles it can turn into bad water
Llama Cebu ohhhh!!! Thank you so much!! I have been saving the bottles for a couple of big pots. Thank goodness I found out first,
@@laurastricklin5837 i prefer leaves, sticks, organic matter, i dont want plastic chemicals or something being absorbed by my plants :(
@@dh.151 Same! Although it might not be as much of a concern if it's just a decorative indoor plant... but I like to grow things that can be eaten or that are useful in other ways. We have 3 huge Sweet Gum trees in our backyard. Endless supply of light weight pot filler material. Lol! For indoor plants I usually just toss a handful of wood mulch in the bottom. Containers without a drainage hole usually get a layer of horticultural charcoal and mulch at the bottom under the dirt. It could easily be all in my head, but that's what seems to work best for me.
I put a thin layer of sphagnum moss at the bottom of all my pots to make sure the soil doesn’t come out through the drainage holes👌
Yes thats why I put something in the bottom. Just what ever I have on hand.
That's the main reason I use some clay pebbles especially if the drainage holes are big. What is the science behind it? I never thought about going so deep, I just know from using my own eyes that the pots without clay pebbles always lose soil through the holes (when the roots of the plants are still small).
Wtf, sphagnum moss goes through the drainage hole as well.
@@Anthonybrother No, it doesn't, it mats together just like it does for a hanging basket.
@@cherylmockotr I guess i'm overwatering, then.
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?
The phenomenon you are referring to is called a "capillary barrier", plenty of illustrations on google. It is for example commonly used to store the toxic by-products of mining, so that they do not infiltrate into the ground. There is however an important point to consider: the barrier works because the fine-grained layer (potting soil here) is much finer than the coarse layer (gravel here); but if you compare it to not having a coarse layer, you would have a fine-grained layer sitting on top of an impermeable layer (plastic) or a layer which is only slightly porous (clay), and not to mention the super coarse zone (the drainage hole) where the capillary barrier will very strong. So, although there definitely is a capillary barrier phenomenon, it is still better than the alternative. Note that if you use clay balls, the barrier will be weaker because clay is porous and will therefore generate some capillarity and help the topsoil to drain: water will drop from the soil at the points of contact with the clay balls and flow around them. If you use rock, I expect the barrier to be much stronger.
So as a personal conclusion, I believe the use of clay balls will increase drainage. Additionally, it will minimize the impact of stagnating water (and help evaporate it), which is typical when a pot is not laying perfectly horizontally and the drainage hole is in the middle (make holes in the corners!).
What does not make any sense, is when I read people recommending "a good thick layer [of gravel/clay balls], the thicker the merrier". A thicker layer provides no improvement whatsoever, but it has the undesirable effect of reducing the volume dedicated to potting soil, which in turn reduces the space available for the plants to grow. I recommend no more than 1-2cm of drainage layer (1-2 layers of clay balls).
I have used the rocks before. But I only use them when the drainage holes were so big I had to block them a bit from dirt coming out.
It’s funny, I never thought I used gravel or shards to prevent overwatering; I always assumed it was to prevent the soil from running out with the water and maybe to keep the drainage hole from getting clogged up. Glad to know I can ditch this step.!
i stopped putting stuff at the bottom of pots, just because i've had problems repotting plants that had grown through the gravel- it's really hard to avoid damaging the roots when they're clinging to stones
Agreed!
When I use a well draining mix the roots hold the soil into rootbound mass the slides out like a cake without damaging any roots. The heavy gravel clings and Rips the roots when I'm sliding and the soil falls all over.
If they're clinging to the stones, the roots may be feeding from the trace minerals in the stone/gravel. Depending on the species you have potted. Agave and cacti do this. Look up the infamous stone eaters article. If the roots don't like it, they dont cling on!
@@TheFlyingMuk thank you for your addition, I looked it up and it's really fascinating I did not expect to learn a cool thing from a youtube comment !
@Andrei Lucaci agreed, not just that it encourages roots to vain off which is better for the plant
I'm calling BS. I have over 50 bonsais in containers and I use gravel in all of them. The actual point of it is to prevent the drainage holes from getting clogged up.
If you want to do that, just add a coffee filter or a single rock at the bottom, no need for all the gravel
Bonsai "soil" is notably different from any other soils. In fact, what is referred to as soil, is typically a sifted, uniformly-sized mixture of 100% inorganics. Bonsai care ≠ houseplant care. They are two very different animals, given the desired outcome.
@@ScironTheBandit if that's the case then why are you commenting on this video? He is not doing a bonsai video. I actually have at least a dozen bonsai too so I know what you mean by bonsai soil being different, but that's not what he is talking about. The soil is totally different as you said.
@@sceek561 because I was replying to Bonsai Boise's comment about their 50+ Bonsais planted in "gravel."
Sorry I tagged the wrong person haha 👍
I recently learned those water beads or Orbeez that are marketed as toys for kids were initially developed as a medium to plant in because they hold and release water as their surroundings dry up. Fascinating to play with. Only a couple of bucks for about a thousand which swell up to be about 4 cups worth when soaked in water. I wonder how well they work if mixed in with the soil.
Oh good I don’t feel bad about forgetting gravel then.
I should add more gravel, i killed my plant because i rarely water them.
😂😂😂
Gravel dosent help drainage that much but yeah uk u shud add it according to ur plant if ur plant likes to be in a place with more moisture instead of adding a humedifier or dont have the space for it you can use gravel now mesh is another story hut yeah gravel is usefull in certain cases just do your research
1. The gravel prevents the soil from leaking out. But you can use just one stone instead.
2. The gravel prevents the hole from clogging with soil, but you can use just one stone for that.
3. The most important reason is the gravel traps air and when the roots grow into it they air prune, this helps prevent the roots from becoming bound and helps them fill the pot.
Yeah, i have watched a few videos on this topic, and now I really think that it is good to put (coarse ) gravel on the bottom of the pot. Coffee filters, or any kind of fabric blocks the drainage holes. Nothing at all on the bottom results in the soil itself blocking the drainage holes somewhat. It depends on the structure of the drainage holes in the pot you're using. The problem with soil in pots is the perched water table , the zone where the soil is completely saturated with water. This is dangerous. This water perched zone is always the bottom part of the soil. When using gravel, you automatically raise this water perched zone. And since many pots are wider at the top than the bottom, the perched water zone gets bigger when higher in the pot. But since coarse gravel allows a lot of air in the bottom of the pot, the perched water zone is likely to dry out much faster than in a pot without gravel. This topic may all get a bit too scientific for some people (it does to me), but I just like the idea of having the deepest part of the pot exposed to a lot of air. If you intend to use gravel, then don't buy pots that are much wider at the top than the bottom. When buying plastic pots, have a look at the bottom. Choose pots with lots of drainage holes.
The Senate care to elaborate?
@The Senate did u even read what Finch Gould wrote?
@The Senate so in the video he says that its worse but doesn't actually prove it in practice... I however have tested this and placing course gravel or small stones at the bottom is best for the root system. If you really want proof of that then go look at all bonsai trees... they dont grow them in fine soil main reason for this is because it actually causes root rot for not draining effectively, again this will also depend on the type of tree/plant you growing. Saying that you shouldn't is foolish... also on a side note he talks about research yet doesn't provide the source for it... Dont always believe what people in videos show... seeing is believing, go test this for yourself and you will see the results
@The Senate source? please dont give me a link to some forum or opinion writing. Stones/gravel for the bottom for drainage is not the reason for it being done, its more around the root system as it helps for oxygen levels in soil for starters. any pot that has drainage holes will be fine when it comes to drainage, if anyone is using pots that dont have holes then that is just silly...
There's other reasons too though... roots need water, air and darkness, that rock layer is dark and full of super humid air. (perfect for roots) I've always done this, never thought it was for drainage though lol
In gardening for roses in pots my grandma always taught me to put one big rock with a bumpy bottom over the hole to keep the potting soil from falling out when you start to fill it. To put a half inch layer of gravel, three quarters of an inch sand and and then potting soil mix for roses with an extra 2 to 4 cups of sand in the potting mix to help with drainage.
We bought a sickly little miniature rose from Walmart if that lived to be over 10 years old. And only really died off because I had to move away to go to college and my grandmother got Alzheimer's. If we had planted in the ground before grandma got sick the plant would probably still be living to this day. Using proper drainage holes is one thing. But if you properly do the layering at the bottom of your pot it works. It's only wrong when people just put gravel and don't do the sand layer in between. Because sand smaller particle size breaks the surface tension of water and allows it to drain out properly.
So basically a pot with no drainage hole is not correct for indoor gardening at all. Which is true. But you're actually just categorically wrong when it comes to plants in pots that do have drainage holes. Using a pot with a drainage hole you have to layer it correctly. Especially once my rose plant got bigger we up potted it to one that had rollers so it could be rolled in and out of the house. And depending on everyone's health and just the crazy life I led living at my grandma's it would sometimes get left outside for days so proper drainage was absolutely necessary. To make sure and unexpected rain storm didn't just drown my prized plant.
I’ve used the gravel technique and sometimes a piece of screen and it works well for me.
But thanks for the vid, I appreciate the time you take to make these.
Putting stone in the bottom of a pot allows for more oxygen at the root base. Roots rot in overwatered conditions because of the lack of available oxygen. A lot of people also make the mistake of checking soil for watering is looking at the top. The top dries faster because its exposed, the base isn't. The middle and base are where the roots are. Helping the soil dry closer to even top and bottom helps with watering frequency. If you think about it, you could cover the drain hole and pump oxygen rich air into the bottom of the pot and drench the soil to full saturation, and the plant would thrive with no drainage. Ever heard of hydroponics? Im not saying putting rocks in the bottom is the same as hydroponics for all the slow people. The theory is it aids more with supplying more oxygen at the root base, helping to prevent other issues. Same reason people use airpots, fabric pots, raised beds, ect for better results. Its difficult to get a solid clay or plastic pot to allow anything to the roots, even having most of the base restricting drainage of standing water. When plants grow say for example flood and drain with stone or hydroton, it dries out so quickly, that it needs to be flooded 3-4 times a day on average. They dry out quickly because of more air circulation... hence the more rapid growth over soil. Soil absolutely retains more water for longer time, than stone. A plant can be grown in only stone given the right size, but stone is inert, so water needs amendments. It would be inconvenient to do this serveral times every day, and that is why soil is used. It is the easiest, failsafe, and convenient. Another conversation. point is, I believe it would benefit more to do a small layer vs not, not just as a drainage sake. Having a minimal impeding (small spacers allowing more airflow) maybe 1" thick between the bottom of the bucket, and the drain pan is also beneficial. But Im not the one with a video.
Interesting thanks
Nice. Little too salty. But nice.
thank you kanye, very cool
I put gravel in my bottom pot cause that i belive 👆🏻but my aroid keep dying until i repoting them and just using media
yes same in bonsai , we put rocks at the bottom to encourage root growth
Been growing (killing) bonsai for years. Sometimes a gravel medium can retain excess water because of water tension. Now after I water my bonsai (victims), I place something underneath to absorb the excess water.
Kenji Houston I love your description. 😂
A trick I learned many years ago is to use shade cloth over the hole ... it works perfectly, stops the soil from escaping and still allows air & water to flow through. I do it with all my outdoor pots too. I learned the hard way about gravel at the bottom of my indoor pots. I’ve killed 4 over the past year doing this! It creates way too much moisture and I even found green slime growing. 🤦🏽♀️😕 It’s funny how many people are out there on CZcams and web pages saying to add gravel to pots. I did it with some succulents outdoors too and even though they are surviving, I do notice how much more moist the soil is. Very helpful and important video. Thank you! 🙏🏽💚
Growing up I had never heard of this but recently I've been branching out with houseplants and "put gravel at the bottom of your pot" is literally in the instructions of multiple commercial potting soils and plant care tags so I started to think I'd been doing things wrong.
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.
How about Hydroton/leca? I use that. Think it’s very common in Sweden. You could even buy normal plant-soil mixed with leca.
This makes sense to me. Particles larger than sand block off more area for water to trickle down through. A pile of gravel has less gaps than a pile of sand, so water is more prone to pooling in a pot. I also imagine soil fills/clogs gaps between gravel particles over time. I line a mesh/porous sheet at the bottom to prevent soil from leaking out the drainage whole.
Hi, thanks for this video :) I just decided to use my kitchen sponges recently just because I didn't want to throw them into the bin. Now that you have mentioned it, that's validation! Thank you :)
I think the advice about putting pebbles or similar things in the bottom of a pot for drainage was originally for pots without drainage holes. I don’t use pots without drainage holes, so it doesn’t apply to me.
I have been known to put stones or gravel in the bottom of a pot, though, for two reasons. The first is to keep soil from washing out through the drainage holes. The second is for ballast. Pots with plants of any height tend to be top-heavy. Stones and gravel are heavier than potting soil, and some extra weight at the bottom of the pot helps keep it from falling over. Neither of these reasons has to do with regulating drainage.
I’ve done it for the same reasons you said as well as to conserve soil. Especially if the pot is larger than the plant technically needs. I have some pretty large pots but many of the plants in them don’t have very deep roots. Also when you have a bunch of extra soil in the bottom of a pot that the roots don’t reach it can stay too wet and cause rotting.
I know this video is about drainage, but I have a tip for people who don't like to water. If you frequently get coffees and have a lot of trays lying around, tear them up and pop them at the bottom of planters.
I did that for my pansies last year because they were in direct sunlight and were constantly drying out. The cardboard retained a lot of moisture, so they didn't need to be watered as often. The pansies loved it. Haven't tried it with other plants, though. I imagine it works similarly to the sponge trick, though!
I grow a lot of trees and shrubs from cuttings and air layering. I always use 1 to 1 1/2 inch stones in the bottom of the pot [angular stones better than round]. In a tall pot, this layer may be 2 1/2 inch or more deep. The main advantage to me is that when I come to plant out, with one quick shake the stones come out and release a lot of the roots which are then very easy to tease out and spread in the planting hole. With no rocks, all you get is coiled mass of tangled root which always suffers damage when you try to release them. Works well for me.
Can't speak to whether or not it is any good for house plants
I use gravel in my 5 gallon planters. Due to the size of the container and it being outside, I want to ensure there's a clear, uncloggable path from potential rain. I don't use fancy potting soil because i'm treating it like a raised bed and working the soil myself with compost and natural ferts. I also see the water retention as a plus because when it's no longer raining i want it to retain a little extra so when we get into 90-100 degree days i'm protected
Great video, I still use a tiny layer of perlite in the bottom of my solo cups for my plant starts seems to work great but I will do a side by side with soil only and test the results thanks again! 👨🌾🌱🌾
How did it turn out?
@Crystal Thunderheart No noticeable difference. This season we germinated in our seed mix in solo cups and paper egg cartons and had around 99% success rate. Thanks for asking and happy gardening to you!
I think I'll continue putting gravel in the bottom of my pots.
Thank you! Was literally going to do this when I repot my lavender plant. Glad I saw your video in time!
Been a grower for years never used anything at the bottom of the pot. Drainage has always been perfect 👌. Thanks for confirming.
Each video I watch on this channel leaves me learning something new.
I've been growing indoors since the sixties and yet this young feller seems more knowledgeable than I am.
Bugger!
;)
I had to sub, eh?
You can also place a small pot, turned upside down in the large pot. Works great for large agaves and other plants that will often grow few roots in the center of the pot
I’m going to try this!
This Idea is absolutely amazing, all of my plants have gravel in the bottom of the pots, if I had known then I wouldn't have bought it and it would have been a lot less heavier. Brilliant idea, I will pass it on to my friends and like my friends they I'm sure will feel just the same, thanks so much. 🙂.
Kevin, thanks for letting me know I have this option for my pots. That I only need a screen to cover the hole.
I’m pretty new to this and I recently repotted two plants and added a layer of
little pebbles because there was no drainage hole and I wanted a backup just in case I over water even though I’m trying to be really meticulous. But now I’m so worried my plants are gonna die 😫 I wish I saw this first!
Repot it! Take the rocks out! And also make a hole! It's actually really easy. Search on CZcams 😁
Another reason to have gravel in the base is for plants in pots *outside*. During winter months in regions with less extreme weather (ie. no snow), the constant rain can result in you pot's saucer being constantly flooded with water (eg. 0.5-1in deep) ... at which point, if you have direct soil contact to this water, you'll more or less have a waterlogged plant (via capillary action).
This can occur for for days on end between your rainy days, as the saucer may never have a chance to fully dry out. The benefit of using course gravel (for an inch or two), is to generate an air gap (which also typically reduces root bind) and reduce this capillary action of the soil grains.
That is a very good point that can be easily overlooked. The topic definitely isn't cut and dry.
Ive always placed the gravel at an agle to allow drainage, not create a solid flat layer of rocks under the soil
makes no difference.@@SunshineCountryChickens
I use some clay pebbles at the bottom because when the plants are small and the roots are no way near the bottom of the pot you don't lose any soil through the drainage holes when the plant is watered which is what I noticed happens, especially when the pot is going outside and I have no control over how much it's watered (due to rain) they also hold onto some of that extra water.
hey, thanks for saving me a trip from my 12th floor apartment down to the lanes, scrounging for gravel! I was thinking oh god, where's a bucket? is there even gravel in the lane blah blah . . . Whew! (Now I'll check your watering video.)
You have Summer Raynes book! So good seeing the plant community support each other. Unlike *other* communities on CZcams hahaha
Oh yeah of course! She actually sent me a little care package which was very kind of her
🍆
I thought they put gravel to prevent soil from coming out of bottom or compacted soil blocking drainage hole??
Usually not a big deal esp. if you use saucers @ bottom of pot
Ok sweet, now I know I won’t have to worry about it, thanks!
@@epicgardening Yeah but I don't want soil constantly coming out of the pot and the drainage holes can get blocked which leads to soggy soil.🤨
I use expanded clay aggregate (LECA) in all of my pots. It wicks moisture down, aerates the roots and prevents the plants from sitting directly in water when there's some in the saucer.
Also these "hydroballs" are just expanded clay and that stuff is cheap as well.
@@neonice I just use a 1 inch piece of landscaping fabric to cover the drainage holes. That way they don't get blocked and there's still good drainage and airflow
@@neonice I use a coffee filter, works great.
I use expanded clay pebbles at the bottom of my pots and/or chunks of broken terracotta pots. As far as I understand this will help wick excess water away from the roots/soil, similarly to the sponge method you described. Also prevents soil from falling through the drainage holes.
Nice! I always like to see ppl telling the truth, not just things every1 else says just cause they have heard it lol... My grandma planted plants in just plain soil and everything grew fine, no fertilizer, no perlite, no gravel no plant lights no bs and everything was fine, I do same and everything grows nicely plain and simple.
I used cut up old plastic bottles to make the large pots lighter and keep the drainage holes clear
im new to container gardening and house plants. Thank goodness i did this with only one pot. HA. I live in the desert so over watering is not really an issue, stuff dries out pretty quick.=, but some of the plants i have repotted from friends the dirt smelt sour. But I am growing jasmine and other plants I will be bringing in this winter. Thank you so much. I had been been putting a rock layer in the bottom. And I do use the best potting soil.
I was almost trying to make a historical mistake by putting chips at the bottom of the pot, than I saw your video which cleared my mind.
Thanks for saving my plants 🙏
Use Perlite instead of gravel at the bottom, so that way it can still absorb the water from the dish and draw it up into the soil without getting overly moist and creating soil born fungus or disease.
I'm still confused by this debate. The water will leach through the soil and either come to the bottom of the pot or the gravel you've place at the bottom of the pot. Either way, the excess will go out the drainage hole. I don't see how gravel could cause the soil to stay wet longer than using no gravel. Maybe I'm missing something. I always use a little just to keep soil from being flushed out when I water.
Now, if the debate is gravel and no drainage hole vs. no gravel and a drainage hole then that's a completely different thing IMO.
He explained it. Pay attention. It has to do with volume of water vs open surface area it must fill. It's math and physics.
Morgan Staege So helpful. Thanks for bringing so much of your boundless intelligence and knowledge to the conversation.
The idea is that while water might be expected to drain out, it can also end up staying retained by the soil. By lifting up the soil and putting rocks, you are not favoring the water to be absorbed my more soil, so it will stay in the soil for longer.
Basically, if you put a wet sponge on top of a dry sponge, water will drain out further down because of absorption faster than putting the wet sponge on rocks that don’t absorb water.
Nono Nono well put 🙃
@@ericrusso6250 it's nice when the idiot that can't understand a simple video needs further clarification and then gets all upset when people talk down to them like the idiot they are.
Depends on where you live. I live in Seattle, so for six months out of the year I have to cover my pots since the rain amount is so high. Started using drain rock in my trees in pots, will see how it goes this year.
I was about to put some shells for drainage and I laughed when I saw your advice. Thanks!
Am I the only one who is sick and tired of hearing online gardening experts constantly telling each other they're wrong?
In the very least it shouldn’t be sold as definitive proof. If I don’t know something for a fact I’d never tout it as such, but I think it’s important to showcase the different ways things are done. It’s what leads to innovation.
The problem is one person gets some views on a topic and all of a sudden they are all overnight experts on the topic.
I guess, in gardening nobody knows the exact answers! I watched so many videos, but everyone has different opinions, so where is the true???We should learn by our self, and until I am learning, some of my plants died!
@@seyed28 One problem is that different people live in different places. Take the US for example. Someone from New York probably needs other approaches than someone in Las Vegas. It's good to tell people about personal solutions. It's bad to sell it as the only way.
@@pyramidion5911 You have gotten to the absolute essence of the problem🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
love your string of hearts in the back
Thanks! It's actually hitting the floor now...time to propagate!
Mine died within 3 days of buying..envious..and my other plants doing fine
I enjoy your videos as they are very informative and straight to the point! Thanks
I’m glad I watched your post before I moved forward on a project I’m working on, but without sand or gravel at the bottom what would you suggest? I have approximately 80 8”L x 8”W x 24” deep containers I want to plant succulents in but to save money I didn’t was to fill the entire 24” depth with succulent soil. I was going to fill in with sand instead.
That’s it, I’m adding gravel to every planter. 🌱🤣😂🤣
😜
😅
😂
😥👉👌
Just put only gravel and no soil.. soils overrated
Normally it's common courtesy to link studies, when they are mentioned.
I agree with you. I saw these videos and put marbles on the drainage holes in the pot. Now my plant is suffering from root rot as soil at the bottom portion remains wet whereas top soil dries out.
My great-aunt taught me to do this. I quit years ago. But with large containers I either use a disc or some other space-saving objects to reduce soil needs or fill the bottom with sand and put a layer of barrier fabric over it to keep them apart. Otherwise the containers get top-heavy and I'm sick of replacing broken containers that the wind blows over.
I just repotted my philidendron like 20 mins ago and put gravel on it.. Then this is in my recommendation the moment I grabbed my phone... Google might have installed some hidden cameras somewhere around the house.. Lols
I use gravel in-between black nursery pots which I cover with an ornamental pot and the gravel goes below the drainage pot not in the soil to elevate the drainage from the water collecting in the bottom so its not sitting in it;s own drainage.
Yes, there is a hidden camera and microphone, it is on your phone which you bring everywhere.
Sadly, our phones are now made to do constant surveillance on us.
What was that potting soil you recommend? I can't find it in the description...
Check out buildasoil
😆 thought the same thing! I think he wants us to buy his book??? 🤷♀️😆
As soon as you drew that little saucer, all I could see was a fancy top hat haha 1:43
I have used expanded clay in the bottom with drainage holes + a little extra perlite in some sunshine 4 and that has been my house plant win.
I just use one shard of broken pot to prevent the soil leeking through the drainagehole.
Usually soil doesn't come out if it's well-moistened and having a saucer underneath prevents any mess anyhow...but you do you!
Yep, that's exactly what I've been doing with my loads of healthy houseplants for the last 50 years. Not all plants want to be in moist soil all the time so those pots definitely need some sort of soil retention at the drainage hole.
@@MargaretUIUC I tried that once thinking it was a clever idea. Nope, I'll stick with my trusty pot shard at the bottom of each pot. Besides, it is a good way to recycle my broken pots.
I've been using shards but still i end up with drainage issues. Perhaps its the topsoil im using as opposed to potting soil which isn't available in my city. Should i add sand?
@@hamidsabir2296 and/or a bit of Perlite or small pumice..less dense/ heavy than sand.
I dont put gravel in my pots only a single stone above the drainage hole to prevent soil falling out or by being taken by water out of the pot
Me too! For a while now
Thank you, so much for your advice.
It is really concise, and simple. I've ordered a tropical rose plant. It's grows in the region of Madagascar. I discovered this plant is poisonous to dogs. I have two dogs. So, the representative told me that when I receive the 6" 🪴, it's imperative you wear gloves, and wash your hands. I plan to transplant into a slightly larger ceramic planter. I've purchased Roberta's Bounty, therefore, when purchasing potting soil, get the organic. This plant doesn't need much watering after it has acclimated to the new pot. She also suggests to put rocks at the bottom of the pot, then follow with soil, and make sure I do not cover the root ball. This plant has a trunk. It has shiny green leaves, and yellow roses. It's an indoor plant that needs a sunny window.
Any further suggestions? You are terrific!!😘👍
This video was very educational will📝 it thank you. I have been using smart gravel on my secculents and they love it they seem more happier😊 am very busy and sometimes I do not have time to water my plants somtimes I think of it as a helping hand for me but everyone is different some methods may help others some may not thank you once again for this video 🥰 love your channel
I usually like his info but for some reason, I'm not convinced.
Gravel on.
Me neither. I still don't understand how come the opposite is supposed to happen, if you put gravel in to increase drainage. I don't get how the gravel is supposed to stop the drainage.
I mean, water percolates downward through the layers of soil. We know this. This is what happens in nature. How come it can't happen in a pot?
Same. I have gravel/stones in all my plants except for two of them which actually have drainage holes and it works completely fine for me. Its not like they grow faster than the others (but on the other hand the only two ones with drainage holes are supposed to be super slow growing). But all of my plants seem to like it and they grow very well. :)
It's similar to how heat is transferred much more easily through direct contact of solids than through air gaps. Like, the difference between hovering your hand a centimeter above a hot stove burner and touching it directly (the heat doesn't travel as readily through the air as it does through the direct contact). Similarly, the water resists moving into the open air space created by the rocks, whereas it more readily moves from soil -> soil or soil -> sand.
Oh great so glad I saw this right after repotting my 18 houseplants with gravel in the bottom of each 🤦♀️
Don’t trust the opinion of one person on the internet. You didn’t do anything wrong.
A crock or jagged stone at the bottom of a pot is a very common practise to keep substrate from being washed out of large drainage holes whilst watering. It also prevents smaller drainage holes from becoming clogged as potting compost breaks down or compacts. These old practises are, in fact, 'back to basics' as you say. Moisture content and where the water 'table' meets the roots is, of course, a consideration, but increased aeration may be a better trade-off, especially when utilising a saucer, preventing increased capillary action.
This is the first year I’ve taken your advice and did not put gravel in the bottom of my pots. This is also the first year my pepper plants have failed me.
Serpa Design puts gravel at the bottom of most of his terrariums and bioactive enclosures. He puts window screen on top to keep the dirt from eventually mixing with the gravel. The idea is that beneficial bacteria will build up in the porous rocks and keep everything clean, while also allowing a reservoir for excess water.
Yeah, but terrariums =/= indoor pots, terrarium plants are normally tropicals that thrive in very wet, humid environments, whereas many houseplants prefer well-drained soil.
Interesting point .. its definately variable dependant on type of plant....
And Tanner knows what he's talking about! Love his stuff 👍but yeah I guess this is plants not like mossy terrariums.
@@flowerheit4512 A lot of common houseplants (tropicals, of course) can be grown in terrariums or vivariums if they are large enough. They come from similar environments.
I can’t stop saying thank you cause your love for plants inspired me to get into gardening. You’re awesome! ❤️
Thank you!
Back in the day, this was a practice to prevent the loss of soil through the drainage holes. Years ago potting soil was not as nice as it is today. As time passed, gravel in the bottom became a mindless habit. It was taught to the younger generations. I never heard that it improved drainage. It just helped prevent a mess on the table.
I havent been potting up with gravel simply because it’s not at hand, but I have noticed repotting seems easier with a gravel bottom layer, the roots collapse away with the stones so I can just scrape the sides and pull the plant out easier. The soil and root plug stays firmly adhered to the bottom sometimes.
I will forever draw top hats like that for the rest of my life. An artist and he doesn't even know it.
😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
1:40 "What's up everyone, Kevin from Epic Gardening here. So today I'm gonna show you how to draw a top hat. Let's get into it."
His top hat was called "3oil".
Isn’t it a question of choice, sir?
I think those of us who are quite creative probably don’t like the idea of sauces and water running everywhere LOL especially when we are not that practical, and I like your idea about putting a sponge at the bottom of the pot.
I am going to try both solutions and see if I can keep my plants growing.
Thank you for these videos which I am finding really helpful. I am starting to develop gardening indoors and outdoors as a little hobby. I am also blind, so this is also a factor involved in my gardening.
But I seem to be doing quite well and really enjoying growing new things and trying out new ideas.
Dictation was supposed to say: sourcers lol
thank you for your efforts it is complicated issue .
some experts are saying otherwise . i know personally some farmers that use gravels in greenhouse planting , not only on the bottom of the container but they also add a vertical column of gravel till the surface hhh
I use some hair from my dog. She is a Samoyed and her fur behaves much like a sponge and it prevents dirt from getting out of the drainage holes. It starts to break down after a year or two, but that's okay.
you mentioned using gravel at the bottom of pots in your ficus elastica video tho lol
Pretty sure that plant needs good water retention because it requires a humid and moist environment. Not adding gravel might have provided too much drainage? I don't even know, this is the first video I've seen of his and I just Googled the plant and used logic lol
😂
I put some kind of mesh on the bottom and 0.1 inch of perlite... Keeps soil in the pot and the roots don't spread out...
Didn't have any issues with rot or something like it - it all comes down to amount of water and how often you water your plants...
Thankyou for the advice i wanted to make video about this problem. ill shoutout you because your my idol thanks for inspiring us plant lovers ❤️
Yes I learned this a few years ago.. I had 2 of the same plants but one had rocks in it. It seemed to stop the roots from growing healthy and it never grew properly
I’m not sure if I agree, as when I haven’t lined with stones the roots have ended up blocking the drainage holes completely and the plant has died. I live in England and it rains a lot so I cannot control how much water they get from rain.
You can't move a pot out of the rain.
Praise Him I am guessing you don’t live in England 😊
@@nelliedean7088 no sunny Australia. I still don't understand why you can't move a pot out of the rain.
Praise Him. If I’m at work (I’m full time) I can’t tell how much it rains at home in the daytime . You are also assuming I have rain shelter for my pots. I don’t as that would also prevent sunshine and we don’t have a lot of that here and certainly not as much as you do. It will also rain at night and it can be hard to tell how much as I am asleep. On top of that it rains so much here I don’t have time to spend my life running back and forth even if I did have any sort of control. We only have to water plants for around six weeks of the year if that. I am sorry that you can’t understand that but it is at no surprise to me bearing in mind where you live.
@@nelliedean7088 Change your plant to water plant. also large leap plant could be an idea.
QUESTION: What would you call a "natural sponge?" Is a LOOFAH ok?
Sure! Just not too much
@@epicgardening Thank you!
Okay, makes sense. I did this a lot following the same logic and had tons of work picking the stuff out again when time came for repotting. I will stop this now.
How about fine gravel with coffee filters above and below on a pot *with* drainage holes? Lets a bit of air in, and helps to weigh down a plastic pot so the plant doesn't get top-heavy. The coffee filters keep dirt from going into the gravel and the gravel from going out the small holes on the bottom. But it also tends to be about a half inch rather than a full inch. I've had luck with that approach, but it's more for weighting and a diffusion layer where some air can get in across the entire bottom - not intended as a reservoir in a pot with no drainage.
What are your feelings on Pumice? I hear it acts like a natural sponge. I mix it with my soil instead of perlite. Have you any opinions on Pumice stone?
basically the same as perlite except it doesn't crush or float :D
In Arizona when a pot gets dry it gets so dry that when you pour in the water it goes around the edge of the dirt and flows right out again. So it is helpful to have something hold the water until the soil reabsorbs it again
Doesn't the dish hold the water until it's reabsorbed though?
the only 2 plants I have with gravel in the bottom, are a pair of cactus that are so top-heavy the plastic pots fell over, so the gravel is to add weight to hold them upright, especially in the strong Texas winds
My understanding of this is that when you have 100% soil in the pot water can pass from the soil, through the hole and out into air on the other side. When gravel is put at the bottom, the water must pas from soil, through the gravel and then through air, its as easy as noticing that the water has a harder time going through the gravel than through an open hole at the bottom of the pot. It seems counterintuitive but its like putting a cloth under the soil, the water seeps into it and stops water from passing through.
I have suffered from that myth, thanks for the info
What happened?