Drainage for indoor plants according to the rules
If there is no "stone" drainage, it is replaced with polystyrene and its analogues. When growing in hydroponics, drainage completely replaces the growing substrate, in fact, the entire technology is drainage. In plastic or polymer pots, it is easy to make holes yourself, but when buying ceramic and terracotta pots, you need to evaluate the drainage capacity of the pots more carefully. 4. Before you start transplanting a plant and laying a drainage, make sure that the tools and materials themselves are clean. Check the instructions for the purchased drainage: some types of special expanded clay, vermiculite and perlite must be saturated with moisture before laying. Agroperlite is not drainage, but one of the best mineral additives for soil.
With each planned transplant, create a new drainage layer. It is advisable to use fresh drainage material. The thickness of the drainage is usually divided (conditionally) into low, medium and high. I can only say that high drainage is about a quarter of the height of the pot, medium up to 1/5, and low up to 1/6 of the height.
But it should be noted that it is not eternal: after 5 years, expanded clay will turn into something similar to soil, so sometimes it needs to be replaced. You won't be able to use a large pot for it because there is too much risk of flooding it, and a small one will be unstable. It is in this situation that it is worth remembering such drainage material as crushed stone. The only negative may be that the moss is not always available, you can collect it yourself, or you can buy it.
How to properly arrange drainage
In order to avoid clogging of the holes, a flawless layer of stones should be laid on the bottom of the tank, thanks to which the liquid will flow through the holes. A thick layer of earth and roots can also clog drainage holes.
If this happens during the next moistening, then it is necessary to start transplanting flowers into another tank with fresh soil mixture.
Material selection
As for what material is best to use for drainage, in this case it all depends on your imagination. In most cases, growers prefer expanded clay, crushed stone, polystyrene, pebbles, small bricks, gravel, and others. Basically, drainage is laid 3 centimeters high from the bottom of the flowerpot. For individual flowers, the pot is filled by a third. Others belong to such plants.
When choosing a material for drainage, flower growers prefer expanded clay most of all. It is sold in every flower shop. Expanded clay quite easily absorbs moisture, and after the soil dries it gives it back. The remains of excess water leave the pot without much difficulty, flowing down the spherical stones.
Expanded clay is quite a light material that does not weigh down the tank with a flower and can serve as a drainage for about 4 years. When a transplant is performed, it is changed. Expanded clay pebbles can also be used for mulching the upper layer of the earth. It does not allow the formation of a crust, the drying of the earth. Expanded clay allows the passage of water to the roots and prevents the occurrence of moss and mold.
You can do the drainage yourself. Ceramic dishes or bricks are very similar in their qualities to expanded clay. They are all made from fired clay. Expanded clay is a good material for drainage, which is crushed into small pieces before use.
Gravel and crushed stone have good strength. Water seeps through them perfectly, and there is no destruction. The only disadvantage of such materials is that they are heavy and the earth is supercooled. Stones do not retain heat, in connection with this, flowers with such drainage are best placed on the southern windows.
Styrofoam is also used for drainage. It does not form mold, and there is no decay. Crushed foam does not absorb liquid, easily passing it to the drainage holes. In addition, the foam protects indoor flowers from hypothermia. It is quite soft, therefore, young roots often go deep into it. At the next transplant, they are simply eliminated. A layer of foam 3 cm in size is laid on the bottom of the flowerpot, then a small layer of sand and soil. Then you can plant indoor plants.
When transplanting and planting, it is imperative to apply drainage for indoor flowers. This will protect the flowers from excess moisture, supply the root system with oxygen.
In no case should you use egg and nut shells for drainage. When moisture affects these materials, they are able to rot, mold, affect the acidity of the earth, which ultimately leads to various diseases in indoor plants. If you do not immediately respond, then the flower is completely capable of dying.
Sand is not allowed yet. When watering, it is filled with particles of earth and simply clogs the drain holes, which leads to stagnation of moisture at the roots and their decay. River pebbles can be used, just need to get rid of the sand.
Professionals do not recommend using granite and marble chips for drainage. This can be explained by the fact that the salts that are present in the composition of granite and marble act with water and acidify the soil very strongly.
Drainage includes not only an excellent liquid-permeable material, but also the ability to decrease the flowing liquid. If water regularly stagnates in the stand, then drainage is simply not needed here. Why is it necessary to drain the excess liquid after the next moistening. If this possibility is ruled out, then the tank on the pallet must be placed on an elevation so that the bottom of the tank is in the air and not in the water.
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What can drainage be made of?
Different types of plants need different structure and size of drainage. The drainage component can be small, medium or large, but each of them must equally have the following properties:
- do not mold;
- do not rot;
- pass water;
- do not give any chemical reactions;
- do not damage the root of the plant.
Drainage is used not only for domestic plants, but also for garden ones.
The most popular type of drainage for indoor flowers is burnt clay, medium / fine fraction, which is called expanded clay. Expanded clay has a porous structure and performs its function perfectly. It retains excess moisture, and as the soil and roots dry out, returns it to them.
In addition to expanded clay for drainage, the following materials are used:
- crushed stone;
- ceramic shards;
- gravel;
- polystyrene (or similar synthetic material);
- vermiculite;
- perlite;
- peat;
- sphagnum moss;
- charcoal;
- broken brick.
To make the right choice of drainage material, you need to have information about them:
Styrofoam is a good material for drainage, but the flower root gradually grows into it.
It is necessary to carefully transplant such plants so as not to damage the root system.
Ceramic shards are laid out with the convex side up, but it is worth remembering that the root can get hurt on sharp edges.
When using broken shards, they are sprinkled with sand on top
It is very important that the shards are not large, otherwise the sand will seep and clog the free space through which excess moisture escapes.
Broken brick can damage the root with its sharp edges, so it is used quite carefully in rare cases.
White sand-lime brick has an advantage over clay red because it is able to absorb moisture and retain it, and then give it back as the soil dries.
Crushed stone and gravel are more often used in garden plots, they have a long service life.
Sphagnum moss has a disinfectant healing property, and also perfectly retains moisture.
Before using this natural material, it is poured with warm water for about half an hour. This procedure will saturate the moss with moisture, get rid of insects.
The only problem is that such moss is not easy to buy, it is often out of stock. You can collect moss on your own in the fall in swampy / wet forest areas. Moss is often used to grow orchids.
Charcoal is used not only as a drainage, but also as a fertilizer. It has an antiseptic effect, adsorbs salts, regulates moisture saturation.
Coal is laid out on the bottom of the pot with a 2 centimeter layer, choosing large fractions that will not seep through the holes. It also works according to the system - absorb, then give.
Vermiculite perfectly absorbs all available moisture, as well as fertilizers.
After a while, he continues to feed the plant, giving him everything that he originally saved. This lightweight material is prepared by heating the clay, which causes the minerals to be compressed like scales, it is absolutely harmless to the plant. Externally, vermiculite is similar to cork or wood shavings.
Perlite has one disadvantage - high cost, but otherwise it is an excellent material for drainage, which absorbs, retains and releases moisture as needed.
Outwardly, it resembles white / gray granules, is of volcanic origin.
It should be borne in mind that drainage also has its own shelf life, for example, expanded clay must be changed every 5-8 years, otherwise it decomposes, becoming part of the soil.
Proper drainage device for house plants
The health and even life of a green pet ultimately depends on how correctly the grower organized the drainage system.
With all the abundance of flower pots, it is impossible not to notice that the vast majority of them are plastic pots. Experienced flower growers even make additional drainage cuts in the side of the pot during the transplantation of this orchid. The ability of such plants to grow in swamps in their natural habitat does not mean that they can exist in the waterlogged soil of a flower pot. Consequently, fewer holes are made in the pot. But first of all, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the features of growing each specific type of indoor flower.
It is the cheapest and most readily available material for drainage. Moreover, unlike bricks, pebbles and shards, Styrofoam is much lighter, which means it does not weigh down the pot.
The ability to breathe should have both the upper leafy part of the plants and the root system.
This procedure is not limited to the presence of holes, it is also necessary to use a special drainage material.
You need to put the pot on its side and clean them with a stick. Some types of plants have such a developed root system that it fills the entire space of the pot. Through the drainage holes, the roots will be clearly visible, and you can easily monitor their condition.
Only materials of inorganic origin are suitable for creating a drainage layer. For example, marble chips are absolutely not suitable for drainage, since with prolonged interaction with water, it significantly reduces the acidity of the soil, making it excessively alkaline.
However, not everyone knows that the arrangement of a drainage layer in a bowl is not as simple as it seems at first glance. The drainage system can also be attributed to the soil, which has water and breathable properties. That is why the correct drainage device is one of the most important stages in planting indoor flowers.It's safe to say that all houseplants need drainage, but the drainage system can vary.
You can buy a drainage mixture at a flower shop or at a construction base if, for example, you decide to buy crushed stone. After planting flowers, it is worth checking whether the drainage system is working well.
Almost all novice flower growers believe that drainage is the same expanded clay that is sold in stores. The main one is to increase the acidity of the nutrient solution that the roots consume. One can agree with this statement, but one can argue. In any case, your humble servant has been using expanded clay as a drainage material for many years, and has not noticed any negative effect on plants. Therefore, their calibration and cleaning fall on the shoulders of the grower. At its core, it is also a pretty good drainage material. Before creating a drainage layer of broken bricks, it must also be prepared.
At the bottom of the pot, in the center of which a hole is made, the largest shard is placed. Then the main substrate is added and the plant is planted. As a drainage for flowers, foam is excellent. Poinsettia from the Euphorbia family is an amazingly beautiful plant.
Can such pain be endured? And how much money have you already “leaked” for ineffective treatment?
It is strictly forbidden to use organic materials for drainage - nut or egg shells, tree bark. For more information, you can watch a video on how to make your own indoor plant drainage. It is forbidden to use such material as marble and granite chips as drainage, especially the first one.
What are drainage holes and why are they needed?
Must be in the pot the possibility
draining excess water. To do this, holes are made at the bottom of the pot, which are called drainage.
Their number can vary from one to one and a half dozen, depending on the characteristics and needs of the flower.
If there are no holes in the pot, then you can make them yourself without any problems. AND humidity control
soil begins already at this stage: the thicker the holes are, the faster the water will leave the pot, and the root system will receive more oxygen.
The number of holes has a similar effect on moisture removal and soil oxygenation.
drainage hole
over time, it can become clogged with earth mixture, drainage or roots. Therefore, it must be checked periodically, especially when it is one. If you notice that the hole is clogged, it should be cleared. For this, a wooden or other stick will fit.
Other elements and basic requirements
What material is used if the necessary elements were not at hand? If you can't find any of the above materials, don't be discouraged, there is always a way out. Use what is at your fingertips. So, what can replace drainage?
- Crushed stone and gravel. Drainage from these stones perfectly replaces the traditional one. The only drawback is that these elements significantly weight the pot. So if you take a small pot or one that you will not often rearrange from place to place, such material will do just fine.
- aquarium rock. Such stones are a good alternative, but the price of the issue is quite high. But if you have if this material, why not use it?
- Styrofoam. Styrofoam perfectly replaces familiar elements. It meets the required requirements, besides, it can be found almost everywhere. People tend to store boxes of appliances or household appliances, so there is no better budget option for drainage. True, they do not crumble it into a pot, but cut it into cubes and lay it in a layer of several centimeters. Of course, damage to the root system can be a significant disadvantage if the roots of the plant braid the foam.
- Brick.You can also replace traditional materials with broken bricks. It is a natural material with the necessary properties. True, before laying it on the bottom of the pot, undermine the edges, otherwise the roots of the plant may be damaged. For use, white brick is better than red.
We also mentioned the basic requirements earlier. It is necessary to ensure that the drainage has the necessary properties and does not harm the plant. This will be enough to achieve the desired result.
Expert answers
Leka+:
except for expanded clay and brick chips - you can use small pebbles (aquarium), shells (if you suddenly accumulated a lot of unnecessary vacations), you can just beat old clay pots or unnecessary cups-plates. For very small plants and small pots, you can use coconut fiber or pieces of natural loofah or sisal washcloths and pieces of natural hump. And as a temporary measure (at the time of rooting of the cuttings, while the seedlings are growing up) - even pieces of foam
A. T.:
Broken brick!
In large pots, when the root of the plants is small, then it is half, sometimes even more, clogged with cones
Galina Zelinskaya:
Chipped RED brick, expanded clay
Irina:
If the pot is large, and expanded clay, bricks are not at hand, then used tea bags can be used. which lay on the bottom of the pot in one layer.
Marina Chepurnaya:
expanded clay, foam
Nina Tuzova (Kvashnina):
pistachio shells. advised. but I haven't tried it myself.
Elena Protopopova:
Brick, pebbles, old shards, etc. . WASH ONLY!!!
Anna Glivatskaya:
You can use walnut shells, just pre-treat in a solution of manganese
Ms. Flora:
Yes, and also pine bark, it is not only for orchids, as an antiseptic, but it is good to put it on the bottom or in the soil. It disinfects and drains.
Maxim ka:
Why seashells? This is lime, not all plants need it. Shards, expanded clay and even pieces of foam.
avmir:
Broken brick, crushed stone, expanded clay, but not shells. And generally avoid limestone, chalk, gypsum.
Tane4ka:
I don't think seashells are a good idea. Sea-salty, they need to be washed-washed-washed. Again, the edges are sharp, the roots can be cut. And they will grind. Expanded clay or small stones are better.
Clementine Lady:
I like expanded clay as drainage. Lightweight, washes well during transplantation, does not injure the roots, there is a large one and a small one, for any holes in the pot. Didn't notice any cons while using it.
Irina K:
You can use coals from the fire
Irina Smirnova:
I like to use pebbles, gravel. Easy to find on the street, any size. Then just wash it properly and to the bottom of the pot. Excellent drainage is obtained. Sometimes I use expanded clay, but not all plants like it. Here I have, for example, adeniums. They do not tolerate expanded clay. As soon as the roots in the pot grow to the expanded clay drainage layer, the leaves suddenly begin to turn yellow and shed. For a long time I struggled with the problem of yellowing of the leaves, until someone here on "ANSWERS" suggested to me that it was necessary to abandon expanded clay for adeniums. I changed the expanded clay drainage to small gravel - everything was fine. Well, they don’t like expanded clay adena ...
Photo Lady:
I always put one large piece of flat shell in the center of the drain. So that the roots do not crawl out. In general, I have all the pots with many holes, so the bottom layer is pebbles, and very large bark (I mostly have orchids, but there are others), large pieces of charcoal, and then the right soil or substrate. Pebbles are still needed to weight small pots. In large plants, I put a pebble in each hole. at the bottom of a huge pot. The water drains, but the earth does not wake up.
tsuatsua tsuautzauza:
Drainage is better to do s polyfacture /catalog/livnevaya-kanalizatsiya/ correctly and efficiently, so that the flowers are constantly watered, then there will be no problems, this is called storm sewerage.
What is drainage and why is it needed
Most houseplants require a soil composition that provides approximately 15% air, 50% solids and 35% water. Only a properly arranged drainage layer can create such optimal conditions.
This is due to the fact that with excessive watering, the very percentages of air content that are vital to flowers are displaced. When there is no oxygen in the soil, the development of pathogenic bacteria begins, the root system rots, the flower begins to wither.
Drainage for flowers, a photo of various types of which is presented in the article, just ensures the removal of excess moisture and ventilation of the roots.
Various materials can be used to lay the drainage layer, such as gravel, polystyrene or any synthetics, expanded clay, moss, crushed stone, charcoal, broken brick, river sand, peat and others. The most commonly used materials will be discussed in more detail below.
An important quality of drainage is good water throughput, chemical inertness, resistance to decay and mold.
Drainage for flowers has different fractions, which are selected depending on the plants.
How to put a drainage layer
It is important not only to choose the right materials, but also to correctly lay the drainage layer.
What are the rules that you need to pay attention to without fail? Consider the basic postulates:
- The main issue is the thickness of the drainage layer. The average height is about 2-3 centimeters. However, the specific height of the interlayer is determined by 3 factors:
- container shape. If the pot is narrow and high, then the layer should be approximately 1/4 of the height (because the soil dries out longer in them), if it is wide and low, then 1/8 (the earth dries out faster), if the vessel is standard and has a proportional width and height , then the layer size is 1/6 of the height.
- The material from which the container is made. If the plant is planted in a container with a porous structure (for example, clay), then the drainage may be less, if the container is airtight (for example, glass, plastic, glazed ceramics), then the layer should be larger.
- Dimensions and number of drainage holes. The number of holes affects the thickness of the layer: the more holes, the smaller the layer can be, and vice versa, the fewer holes, the thicker the layer should be. However, the diameter of the holes also plays an important role: if the holes are small, then the layer should be larger and vice versa.
Materials for the drainage layer can be reused (with the exception of perlite or small stones, small expanded clay, crushed brick, it is rather difficult to separate them from the soil). After removal from the bottom of the container, they must be washed, disinfected (for example, in a dark solution of potassium permanganate or chlorhexidine) and dried.
- When planting or transplanting any plants, you must use new, clean and dry materials! It is impossible to lay dirty and not disinfected materials. If you bought drainage in a store, then read the instructions.
- If you buy a houseplant and instructions are attached to it, then be sure to carefully study it. Drainage requirements may be specified there.
- It is optimal to do drainage in 2 layers: from below, material of large fractions (expanded clay, crushed stone, gravel, ceramic chips), and put smaller elements on top (perlite, broken brick, or at least coarse-grained sand).
- If you are using only fine-grained materials, then pour a small layer of earth on them before planting.
- The drainage layer must be even. After planting the plant, you need to carefully walk along the walls of the container and shake it slightly so that the material is evenly distributed.
Brief description and necessity
It is quite simple to explain the fact why and why this component is so important in the field of growing flowers.The thing is that without drainage, the soil gradually compacts and dries unevenly from moisture. In addition, there are areas with excessive moisture, which can turn sour and cause rotting of the root system. Experts say that the spread of dangerous diseases and pests, the lack of air permeability and rotting of the soil, the disruption of the normal outflow of excess moisture, and the anaerobic environment are not all the factors that a small drainage layer at the bottom of the tank can successfully cope with.
Experts note that such material is a universal soil drainage system that helps maintain the most favorable substrate moisture for each type of indoor plant. Simply put, this is a specific layer of coarse-grained or coarse-grained materials at the bottom of the flower pot, which guarantees good air permeability to the soil, as well as an optimal outflow of excess moisture.
Beginning florists often forget that good breathability plays an important role in the process of growing a healthy plant. After all, only in this case the root system of the flower will be able to breathe and develop normally.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=DQghHByiU1w
Best Answers
avmir:
When I was a snotty kid, there were only ceramic pots with one hole in the bottom. This hole was blocked with a shard from broken dishes, and earth was taken as soil from a garden or forest belt and mixed with coarse river sand (cherozem from molehills was especially valued). That's the whole drainage, and even a solid nutrient substratum.
Alisa Doronina:
Crushed styrofoam.
Academician:
Broken brick, if there is no expanded clay, although it costs a penny.
Lirriella:
Why replace it? Useful thing. Expanded clay works well. Well, or, if grown on a wick, it is not needed.
riba xitraya:
sphagnum, but expanded clay is best
Styrofoam is essentially not drainage, but rather .. fill in the extra volume so that there is less soil, less risk of flooding. It does not come into contact with water, and the essence of drainage is to absorb excess water and give it away at the right time.
SPIKED LIKE A Hedgehog…:
Throw any stones ...
Clementine Lady:
Expanded clay, ceramic fragments, polystyrene. You can add agroperlite to the soil, it will prevent overflow.
Irina K:
Pieces of charcoal are very good to use as drainage.
I AM:
crushed stone or gravel fine ideal for drainage
Elena Rudenko:
Drainage is for that and drainage to absorb excess moisture (if the plant is flooded). It is better not to shove nonsense into the pot, like Styrofoam, which does not fulfill the function assigned to it. It is better to purchase high-quality drainage. I buy drainage Flower large and small from Fasco. It fully and completely fulfills its function.
Ruslan Ladushkin:
You can, in principle, quite cost-effectively now) acoline ordered excellent prices here. and the guys there are great. In general, it's up to you to decide, but I really advise you will not regret it)
Evgeny Volkov:
acoline /
Vermiculite and perlite
Granules of vermiculite and perlite serve as excellent drainage material.
Vermiculite is made by heating clay to very high temperatures, causing the minerals to be pressed together like flakes. In appearance, this drainage resembles parts of cork or wood shavings, it is light, inert, and does not harm plants.
Perlite is an elastic silica of volcanic origin and appears as gray or white granules.
Both materials tend to absorb moisture with mineral-organic substances dissolved in it, and then, as needed, return them to the soil.
The disadvantage of this type of drainage is the high price.
