It can be challenging to maintain healthy, flourishing, and attractive indoor hanging plants. It can be simple to forget your indoor plants’ demands or fall into the “over-watering” or “under-watering” trap when you have a busy family and job.
It’s crucial to give your indoor plants the ideal environment for growth and success. You may be wondering whether hanging plants require drainage to remain healthy.
We’ll cover everything you need to know about caring for indoor hanging plants in our informative article so they can keep making your home or workplace feel like a tranquil haven.
The majority of indoor hanging plants require good drainage. For them to survive and develop, this is crucial. A pot’s base should not collect water because this might lead to the growth of bacteria, fungi, and root rot.
Now that we’ve covered that quick takeaway, let’s move on to learning why indoor hanging plants require drainage.
Should drainage holes be drilled in hanging planters?
Similar to other container plants, hanging basket plants and flowers require sufficient drainage. Your plants may suffer if your basket doesn’t have drainage holes on the bottom.
What should hanging plants use for drainage?
Planters on hooks should be filled with light soil. According to the University of Illinois Extension, a mixture of equal parts peat moss, perlite, and potting soil drains effectively and encourages healthy air circulation around the roots of your plants.
A planter without drainage holes must be hung in some way.
In those pots lacking drainage holes, some professionals advise placing a layer of stones as a form of drainage layer. Using this method, extra water can drain into the area between the pebbles rather than onto the soil and into the plant’s roots. Others advise against this approach, even going so far as to label it a “myth,” contending that water has difficulty moving between the two different media and will instead remain within the soil even if pebbles are present beneath it.
However, there is still a method to make use of those lovely pots without drainage holes! Place your plant in a pot that is porous and has a decent drainage hole, such as the traditional terracotta pot, and then set that pot within the bigger decorative pot with no drainage hole.
If the plant is small enough, you can remove it from the decorative pot when it’s time to water and use the drainage hole. Alternately, you may put gravel or stones in the ornamental pot’s bottom and then put the useful pot with drainage on top of that. Gravel could be used in this situation to keep the roots of the plant away from standing water. Additionally, this configuration allows for ambient humidity, which is beneficial for many plants.
Note: Since you have no control over how much water your plant receives, pots without drainage holes should never be used outdoors where it will rain on your plant.
Therefore, feel free to utilize and appreciate those lovely pots devoid of drainage holes, but do so with caution and never at the expense of your priceless plants.
Can you plant a tree without any holes for drainage?
Different pots have different drainage systems. Although it seems like a simple differentiation, the size of the hole at the bottom of your pot makes a huge difference in terms of potting, plant maintenance, and plant care.
How to plant in pots without drainage holes is a topic that we get a lot of inquiries about. Some advise against it altogether, claiming that drainage holes are essential for plant health. Can you keep your plant in a pot that doesn’t have drainage holes? Our recommendation is to proceed cautiously.
What does a drainage hole serve? Water is essential for plant survival. But the most typical—and maybe quickest—way to kill a houseplant is overwatering. After watering, drainage holes let extra water to drain out of pots, preventing water from pooling at the base and safeguarding delicate roots from rot, fungus, and bacteria.
Here are some things to keep in mind when caring for plants in containers without drainage.
Rules for Planting: Pots Without Drainage Holes
A small amount of water has a big impact. When a plant is in a pot without drainage, you should make careful to water it sparingly and gradually rather than fully saturating it and letting the extra water run out the drainage hole as we generally advise. Every water drop you add to the pot will remain there. Additionally, watering slowly encourages the soil to absorb water evenly rather than collecting at the bottom.
Use soil modifications The soil of your houseplant doesn’t get compacted or water-repellent thanks to soil additives. These additives not only allow for aeration but also aid in more even water distribution throughout the soil. Perlite, pumice, vermiculite, orchid bark, and horticulture charcoal are examples of typical additives.
When soil without amendments dries out, it frequently repels water and makes caring for indoor plants more challenging. The little pieces of porous rock and bark assist provide water with additional pathways to hydrate the roots of your plant.
Employ activated charcoal. High temperature heating boosts the naturally absorptive qualities of activated charcoal. This implies that, in the event of overwatering, a thin coating of activated charcoal at the bottom of your pot can actually remove some of the extra water, making your plant very happy.
Fungal and bacterial illness are additional problems brought on by over irrigation. Natural microbial features of activated charcoal can aid in warding off those dangerous insects. Added benefit!
Do you feel you overwatered? Shake it off. Yep To enable the extra water to drain, gently flip the pot to the side (or upside down, if feasible) while holding the soil back with one hand. Any soil that is lost can be replaced later.
Avoid being showered on Unless the plant will be protected from rain, you probably shouldn’t use a pot for an outside plant if it doesn’t include a drainage hole. You must carefully control how much water goes into your pot because everything might be lost if it gets soaked during a downpour. Use the appropriate size More soil means longer-lasting moisture. We never advise transferring a plant to a pot with a diameter more than 1 or 2 inches. This is particularly true if your pot lacks drainage holes because the soil will remain moist for longer and you may unintentionally overwater if there isn’t enough root mass to fill the container. Hoya, Jungle Cacti, Tradescantia, and Epipremnum are some examples of the plants we prefer to pot because they enjoy being rootbound into these pots without drainage.
Repot is the last resort. You must pay attention to your plant. In a pot without drainage, your plant may flourish or suffer depending on your environment and personal watering habits. Gently take the plant out of the pot if it isn’t flourishing and examine the roots. Overwatering is indicated by roots that are mushy, black, or brown. In order to repot the plant in a pot with drainage holes and keep it merely damp until it begins to recover, try trimming off any roots that appear to be injured.
Make it a cachepot, expert advice Here’s a tip if you’re a little daunted by the added effort required to put a plant in a pot without drainage. Find a plastic container that is just little smaller than your planter and has drainage holes. Set the plastic pot with your plant into the planter after you’ve potted it. If done correctly, the plastic should be concealed, giving the impression that your plant has been potted right into the planter. Utilizing the drainage holes in the plastic pot, you can then take it outside to water.
Do you have any suggestions on whether to pot plants with or without drainage holes? Let us know in the comments. Happy gardening!
What do you put in the hanging baskets’ bottoms?
Line the basket with a material that will help the soil maintain moisture before adding dirt and the plants. Options consist of:
- Coco coir liners are thick, durable, and absorbent since they are made from natural coconut husks. In order to keep the soil moist, it will store water and gently release it. Additionally, they have a pH balance that helps to maintain healthy soil, and they are biodegradable, so they won’t harm the environment.
- Even though it’s not as environmentally friendly, a plastic bag can be used as a temporary hanging basket lining. To limit the amount of moisture that evaporates along the sides, put holes to the bottom and cut it up so that it fits easily and coverlessly in the bottom of the basket. If your plants prefer a dryer environment, only line the sides of the basket. As a result, water can readily drain to the bottom. Lining the interior of the entire hanging basket is a good idea for plants that want to stay damp.
Snake Plant
The Snake plant is one of our top picks for plants that don’t need drainage holes and is one of the best indoor plants for beginners. These plants, which are native to West Africa’s tropical region, are well-known for having blade-shaped leaves that are always upright. Although the snake plant is typically grown in a pot filled with soil, it can also be grown in a bowl of water.
Simply place some plant cuttings in a small basin of water, and then wait a few days. You will observe that the cuttings gradually transform into lovely snake plants during the next days. Just be careful while tying the plant’s base as it grows higher because this will make the leaves stand up straight.
Oleander Plant
The oleander plant, which belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is best known as a shrub, is a plant. None of us are certain of the plant’s genuine origin because it is grown practically anywhere in the world, while some specialists assert that it is from the Southwestern regions of Asia.
Interestingly, although being renowned for its vivid and lovely blossoms, oleander plants can also produce deadly blooms. Some gardeners assert that the plant itself is poisonous. For this reason, if you have children or pets in your home, we will not advise using oleander.
Although it can be planted outside, the oleander is typically grown indoors. Their ability to survive with little or no water is their greatest strength. The soil also doesn’t matter much to oleander, unlike its picky relatives. All you have to do is provide the plant with one to two inches of water. Perform this once each week or every ten days. Ensure that the plant receives enough sunshine, but watch out for harsh or excessive rays that could hinder the plant’s growth.
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreens are well-liked plants that don’t need drainage holes because of their long, silvery leaves with a hint of green. It’s important to remember that the Chinese Evergreen prefers moist settings even though drainage holes aren’t a big problem for them. For optimal results, make sure the soil is evenly moistened without being overly saturated with water for an extended period of time. For this reason, it is preferable to hold off and let the soil dry out before thinking about adding the next round of water.
Why are the hanging plants I have indoors dying?
A fresh wave of interest is being seen in house plants. This is fantastic news for Good Earth Plant Company. Since plants provide so many advantages for your health, it has been our purpose for more than 40 years to inspire people to incorporate nature into the places they work, live, and play.
Finding a spot in your house for a brand-new plant is enjoyable. However, after a few days, weeks, or months, you start to realize that it isn’t quite as fresh and green. Perhaps the leaves are dropping off or turning yellow. Or it’s just blatantly weak. How can you help? Can you bring back a dead plant? Must you attempt?
You should definitely give it your best shot. All plants have a natural urge to live. It’s incredibly satisfying to bring back a plant or a set of roots that you believe are dead. If it fails, you will have tried, and you may have learned something for the future.
For our clients, our horticulture technicians take care of thousands of plants. When they see a plant isn’t performing properly, they must first make a diagnostic and determine what is wrong in order to know what kind of remedy is required. Here are some advice we have for you if you operate as a home or office amateur horticultural technician.
Diagnosis: Overwatering. Cure: Stop watering so much.
a typical instance of overwatering This plant is NOT cared for by Good Earth Plant Company!
The main cause of indoor plant death is this. People water their plants, which kills them gently. Watering a plant on a daily basis won’t help if the roots have rotted due to overwatering. Rotted roots frequently allow a pathogen to enter the plant, which then kills it. Replace any mud-covered soil and any roots that are plainly rotting. To a little damp to completely dry state, let the soil dry. You might not be able to save it even then.
Diagnosis: Underwatering. Cure: Hydrate the plant.
Even in the heat, even if you may think your plant is pleading for water, don’t go overboard. Make sure to check often. Image: Tookapic, under a Creative Commons license
If the plant is wilting from a lack of water, hydrate the soil by submerging the entire pot for 15 to 30 minutes in a sink or pail of water. Watering from the top will probably run down the sides since the soil has become into a dried, hard brick. Don’t let the water sit on your plant; instead, let it drain completely. Then either get a plant that requires the least amount of watering, like a succulent, or set a calendar reminder to water.
Diagnosis: Potbound. Cure: Replant into fresh soil.
Try to avoid making the initial purchase of a rootbound plant. When it reaches this stage, gently divide and trim the plant, then repotted it in a slightly bigger container.
If the plant’s roots are getting choked out as a result of being overcrowded, you need to take it out of the container, gently separate the roots, and then repot it in new soil. Pick a pot that is just a little bit bigger than the one you are taking it out of. Going too far, too quickly, might lead to issues.
Diagnosis: Too much sun. Cure: Move into less harsh light.
Avoid allowing summertime sunshine coming in via windows to burn your indoor plants. Place them in a secure area. Image by Yanoch Kandreeva under a Creative Commons license
If you find brown or black spots on the leaves of a plant, check to see if it is receiving direct midday sunlight from a nearby window. Your plant is severely burnt and sunburned. Remove the plant from the direct sun and trim the leaves.
Diagnosis: Too little sun. Cure: Give it more indirect light.
In low-light environments where a live plant would struggle to thrive, it is sometimes preferable to employ replica plants.
It may not be getting enough sunshine if your plant’s leaves are slowly turning yellow or pale or falling off. The majority of hardy house plants can withstand some minor maltreatment, but they require a certain quantity of sunlight to survive. The greatest spot to start with your plants is in bright indirect sun. Without sufficient light, growing a plant is doomed to failure.
Diagnosis: Failure to thrive. Cure: Check the growing conditions.
Avoid over-trimming your plant in the summer to avoid stressing it. Never cut your indoor plants more than 25%. Creative Commons license for the image
Make sure you are aware of the circumstances your specific plant loves and make sure its location meets these requirements if there isn’t an obvious culprit, such as overwatering. Then determine whether the temperature at your office or home is too high or low for the plant. Check to see if the air conditioning is on in the building to see if the plant is getting burned while you’re away if it is left unattended in an office over the weekend. Another issue is when a plant is placed next to a vent that blasts chilly air.
No matter what is happening, you should never fertilize a weak plant. Both chicken soup and antibiotics are not fertilizer. Cut back any stems or leaves that are starting to wilt. Leave at least a few leaves for the sun to absorb and absorb. Make sure the plant’s container has sufficient drainage coming out the bottom. When it starts to grow again and you notice fresh growth, you should think about giving it a boost with a general water-soluble fertilizer.
Consider replica plants if you have a brown or black thumb or if you struggle to maintain your plants. There are so many wonderful ones out there, as we noted in our article from last week. We won’t condemn you.
Another choice is to hire experts! Do you employ someone to groom your dog or replace your oil? Call Good Earth Plant Company, and we’ll be pleased to maintain the health and growth of your plants. You can claim full credit.