Drainage is a system for removing water through the soil in which a plant grows. Why is it needed? The answer to this question is simple: any houseplant must breathe for successful growth. If watering is plentiful, water displaces air from the soil, which causes the growth of bacteria. Lack of oxygen in the soil can cause root decay. So, the drainage for flowers is designed to divert water from the pot and allow all parts of the plant (especially the roots) to breathe.
Drainage is needed for absolutely all indoor plants. He needs to pay as much attention as the more familiar fertilizer, lighting or watering.
The choice of drainage directly depends on the material and shape of the pot, its size, as well as the size and shape of the special holes in the bottom. When choosing a pot for an indoor plant, pay attention to the holes. Remember that the higher and narrower the pot, the longer the soil dries.
Despite the fact that drainage for flowers should take place in any case, there are different drainage systems. So, for example, cacti and orchids require a quick drainage system, which is why pots with a large number of holes are chosen for them. The pot is filled with a porous substrate. Plants that need constant hydration of the roots are planted in pots with fewer holes.
The need for hydration for each indoor flower is different, but they all love oxygen. To prevent holes from clogging the ground, large pebbles are laid out on the bottom, which allow water to flow out through the holes.
What can be used as drainage for flowers?
There are a lot of options. Among the main requirements for drainage are chemical inertness, resistance to mold, rot, good ability to pass water. A huge amount of materials is suitable for these criteria: gravel, crushed stone, ceramic shards, expanded clay, and broken brick. Today, various synthetic materials (for example, polystyrene foam) are used for these purposes. So, in a pot with holes put about one centimeter of the drainage layer, and only then the ground, where the plant is planted.
The most common drainage for indoor flowers is expanded clay. It can be purchased at any flower shop, although it relates more to building materials. Expanded clay can be of different sizes, the choice of which depends on the size of the pot, flower and other characteristics.
The second most popular is ceramic flower drainage. It is a shard of pottery, which are laid out on the bottom with the convex side up. A layer of sand is laid on the ceramic drainage, and only then the earth.
Polyfoam is a lightweight material that also meets all the requirements. You don’t need to buy it: for sure, packing from under some equipment is lying around in your house, and you can make a drainage for the flowers with your own hands.
Crushed stone, gravel and broken brick are often used, as these materials are natural and resistant to damage.
So, the right choice of drainage affects how the indoor plant will feel. Take this seriously, paying attention to all the subtleties, including the holes in the pot, the size of the stones, the shape of the pot and the other points indicated above.