Plumbing Seattle

Do all plants need drainage pots in the inside of the actual pot?

i bought a small plant and it came inside a drainage pot. i took the plant out of the pot and placed it in a decorative one (which does not have any drainage holes at the bottom) but i heard that i have to have an inner pot with holes or a decorative pot with a hole at the bottom. i do not want a drainage pot because they look ugly. are they any other solutions? please help!

Public Comments

1. Most plants to, because if the roots of the plants sit in too much water, you will get root rot which will kill the plant. The drain holes allow the water to collect in the dish under it, and the dirt will soak up the water as the plant needs it.
2. no
3. you can put old crockery at the bottom of the pot for drainage just dont overwater
4. its its an outside plant .. you need drainage.. if its and inside/shade plant then you dont need a drainage hole... just water once a week.. do not over water inside plants. it will turn yellow immediately...
5. It really depends on the plant. I have a plant that grows a lot better without a dranage pot and another (Aloe) that loves a drainage pot. Check out different potting soils also. Some are made to not hold as much water as others. I hope that helps!
6. Heather is right. You only need a drainage pot if you are not careful about watering, ie. you water too much. Don't use a drainage pot IF you think you can keep the soil moist, getting enuf water to the plant, without letting water collect in the bottom of the pot (which you cannot see). Most people do not want to be that precise and over water, but drainage saves them from rot.
7. Keep plants in the original container or transplant to a slightly larger container. Place this ugly plastic container inside your decorative pot...then stuff foam or plastic bags around the edges - between the two pots. Top with Spanish moss (buy in a bag from craft stores) or large wood chips. This is how professional plant companies achieve a 'finished' look. The next time yo are in a 'professional' building (i.e. bank, hospital, etc.) take a look at the plants. :) I worked with an interior plant company for several years. Hope this help.
8. Pretty much all plants do better in drainage pots. The number one killer of plants is over watering. If there's no drainage, the roots rot. If you want to keep your plant in a pot with no drainage, make sure you water it very little. Depending on what kind of a plant it is and where you keep it, watering is done once a day or maybe once a week, but not much water at a time (the roots should not "sit" in water all the time.)
9. plant roots will rot if they soak in water. they need air to dry out. Kinda like your feet being in soggy wet shoes n socks all the time.
10. You can use styrofoam packing" peanuts" in the bottom of the decorative pot . I use them as drainage even it the pot has holes in the bottom, I put an unused coffee filter over the hole to keep the dirt in first. I've had great success with this. Some plant roots will grow right through the styrofoam! This is a good way to recycle styrofoam. Good luck.