You can use a few hints and techniques to get the big pots you might require for your garden. In truth, it’s simple, even free, to obtain large containers that can be used as garden pots. You only need to ask.
For instance, purchasing one of those 5 gallon plastic pots from your neighborhood Home Depot or a store like it is rather simple. The secret is to inquire about the recycling program at the store. For everybody who purchases a tree, plant, or even a program, Home Depot offers a special program. You can recycle the plant’s growth container if you purchase a plant.
The fact that these pots are available for free is fantastic. Since they are designed for recycling, the staff will typically let you take as many as you like at no charge. Even if your neighborhood store doesn’t give them away for free, there’s a good chance you can still purchase them for a very low cost.
It is obvious that using this strategy might help you save a lot of money given that a normal large pot or container costs at least $10 each piece. Yes, you will need to clean these pots at home, but it won’t be a big deal since you can obtain all of these pots for nothing or for a very low cost.
Bakeries are a great place to seek for inexpensive, old pots. As cookie and frosting buckets are commonly used by bakeries, you might stop by your neighborhood bakery and inquire as to if any buckets are available for disposal. Most likely, you’ll be able to receive them for nothing. This is an additional simple method for obtaining huge pots for your yard.
The bottom line is to simply ask around at neighborhood shops. Many businesses are more than delighted to let you take large containers that they no longer need for free. It’s a good substitute for store-bought pots. They are affordable and make excellent plant planters. The only thing you have to do is fully clean them before using.
Are succulents healthy in plastic containers?
The absorption of terracotta, meanwhile, can sometimes work against you, especially in warm weather. Plants may become parched as a result of the soil drying out too soon due to the clay’s absorbent properties. In cooler months, this is less of an issue, but in the summer, you may need to water your plants more frequently to make sure the pot isn’t robbing them of too much moisture.
Plastic pots might be the best choice if you frequently neglect to water your succulent plants. Since plastic is not permeable or absorbent, it will take longer for the soil to dry out than with clay pots. Just make sure your plastic containers have adequate drainage; otherwise, you might discover that the roots of your succulents have rotted from too much moisture.
Black or dark-colored plastic containers, as was already said, might also cause the soil of your succulent to dry up. The water in the soil will evaporate more quickly because the dark colors absorb more heat from the sun. Keep an eye on those succulents during the summer because this can swiftly harm a plant in excessive heat.
Are small pots preferred by succulents?
It can often be difficult to determine the proper size of pot for your succulents and arrangements. In order to give your succulents some room to spread out and expand, I generally advise allowing about a half-inch between them and the pot’s edge.
Because the roots stretch out before the succulent has a chance to catch up, too much room can actually stop a succulent from growing much larger. A 2.5 inch pot is typically a decent choice if you’re planting a two-inch succulent alone.
You should allow some space around each succulent in your arrangement if you’re mixing many of them so they have room to spread out.
Once completed, a closely packed arrangement like the one below will be stunning and will typically stop the succulents’ growth.
Give your succulents enough “breathing room” so that new growth may occur if you want them to grow bigger and spread out. The optimal ratio is often 1/2 to 1.
You ought to feel better prepared to buy a new pot for your succulent plants today. Even though there are many factors to take into account, picking a pot is still a lot of fun when growing succulents.
It’s time to start potting after choosing the ideal container! For a detailed guide, see my post on potting succulents.
Succulents can they be grown in pots without holes?
Whether you’ve planted succulents before or not, you probably already know that the subject of drainage holes comes up very frequently. What makes drainage holes crucial? They help prevent moisture from accumulating at the pot’s base by allowing extra water to seep out of the container.
Because succulents store water in their tissues, leaves, and stems, this is a significant concern. They are vulnerable to root rot if submerged in water for an extended period of time. Some folks are rigid about all planters having drainage holes.
Some people don’t care as much about holes. Here are some things to think about if you have a container that you really want to use for growing succulents and cacti but you’re worried about drainage problems.
To Drill or Not to Drill?
You can certainly drill a hole into the planter, and you don’t need to be skilled with tools to do so. How to start drilling a hole in ceramic, glass, etc. is covered in a ton of free video tutorials. Please click on “How to Grow Succulents in Pots without Holes” for detailed instructions on how to drill a hole in glass or ceramic containers.
Things to Consider Before Drilling a Hole
What would drilling a hole cost you? Would it be more expensive to buy a pot with drainage or to drill a hole? Most households already have a drill.
Most likely, all you need to spend money on are some reasonably priced diamond drill bits. When you consider how much use you will get out of a drill, even if you don’t already own one and must buy one, you might view the purchase as a wise financial decision.
You must decide which item you value more, the plant or the pot. You might want to think twice before drilling a hole in a particularly expensive pot that you spent a lot of money on or perhaps an antique. Additionally, once a hole has been made in something, there is truly no going back; it is irreversible.
So think about which is more essential to you: the plants’ value or the container’s value. Succulent plants are fortunately inexpensive and simple to replace. The reason we adore them so much is that they are extremely simple to cultivate and spread.
Do Succulents Need Drainage?
Succulents in pots—can they thrive without drainage? In light of this, you’ve made the decision to plant the succulents in a container without holes. How long will they be able to survive? Succulents can live and even flourish in pots without holes, so yes, they can. Everything hinges on how you take care of the plants.
The main issue that individuals have is with irrigation. Succulents can suffer from people overwatering them, which is bad for the plants. Succulents can flourish for a long time in pots without drainage after you understand how to properly water them.
Here is evidence that succulents can thrive in containers without drainage for a long time. In this instance, the container failed much earlier than the plants. The containers of these plants have outlived them. The plants are still flourishing, as you can see. They spent around two years in this container. How did I manage to keep them around this long? primarily from utilizing the right potting material and adequate watering practices.
I’ve attempted to repair this in the past with hot glue. I decided to repot these plants after around two years.
How to Plant Succulents in Pots without Holes
You can make a layer for drainage in the bottom of the pot by adding a layer of rocks, pebbles, stones, or pumice (or a combination of these). By allowing extra water to flow out of the soil and into the rocks at the bottom, this can help prevent root rot. By enabling the water to drain from the soil more quickly and keeping the roots from spending too much time in moist soil, this helps prevent root rot.
Think about how big the pot is. You will primarily need pebbles, pumice, or smaller rocks if your pot is small. You’ll need bigger and more rocks the bigger the pot.
You can incorporate pebbles, boulders, pumice, or perlite into the cactus potting mix in addition to the drainage layer. Adding larger particles to the soil, which is typically highly compact, generates more space between them, allowing water to drain out more quickly and preventing the roots from soaking in damp soil for an extended period of time.
The aid of activated charcoal aids in water absorption. Additionally, it has inherent antibacterial qualities that can inhibit the growth of germs and fungi. A layer of activated charcoal, about 1/2 inch thick, can be added over the rock layer or in the bottom of the pot.
Although it is optional, activated charcoal is a nice choice to have if you want more drainage and absorption. It might not be possible to utilize activated charcoal if the pot you’re using is small. Please visit my resource page to learn where to buy activated charcoal online.
You’ll need extra dirt as the container gets bigger. More soil indicates that the soil can hold more water. Consider the plants you are utilizing while selecting the pot size.
Large containers are unnecessary for small plants. When repotting, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that the new pot shouldn’t be more than 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the old one. Succulents don’t require a lot of extra space because they prefer a small pot anyway.
How to Water Succulents Without Drainage
Your watering strategies are the key to the plants’ survival in pots without holes. Keep in mind that extra water cannot drain from the pot, so water the plant sparingly. You should take particular care when watering plants without holes if you tend to overwater your plants. In between waterings, let plants dry out, then check the soil for moisture.
Use a syringe, a spray bottle, or a squeeze bottle if you want to better manage the water you put into the containers. Make sure to spray the soil, not the plant’s surface, while using a spray bottle. You want the water to reach the plant’s roots so that it can be absorbed there.
The size of your container, the growing season, and the environment where you reside all have a significant role in when and how often you should water. The dry and growing season tends to increase the need for water on plants. Plants require less water during the slower growing season and cooler months. I normally observe the plant to determine when and how frequently to water it. In general, I water once every 7 to 10 days throughout the summer and less frequently, once every 10 to 14 days or more, during the cooler months.
My plants receive plenty of sunlight because I keep them outside the entire year. Additionally, my area is rather dry, and the midday sun may be quite warm. You don’t need to water as frequently if you reside in a humid climate.
Water the plants sparingly to begin with and then increase the amount as necessary. Until you determine the plants’ watering requirements, it is preferable to underwater rather than overwater.
If you mistakenly added too much water, you can carefully tilt the pot over while holding the plants in place to prevent them from falling out to drain the extra water. To dab the extra water, you can also use a dry towel or paper towel.
If you keep your plants outdoors, be sure to transfer the pots without holes to a shaded area when it looks like it could rain. Pour away the extra water as soon as you can if you forget to move the pots and it rains on them.
When your plants begin to shrivel, that’s a strong indication that they need more water. Usually, the leaves are the first to do this. You are typically underwatering if you touch a plant and it feels soft and unfull of water.
Time to Repot
Let’s assume that despite your efforts, the plants are not growing healthily. Not to worry. Succulents are extremely tolerant plants. The plants can be taken out and replanted elsewhere. When given the necessary care, they frequently recover quickly.
In this instance, the pot isn’t doing well, but the plants are. I potted these plants in the following manner. I took stem cuttings and placed them in several pots because I wanted them to grow more. As usual, I added perlite to a cactus potting mix for enhanced drainage.
They were divided into two pots. Jade clippings from a prior project were also included. My favored method for propagating and expanding my collection of succulents is stem cuttings. It seems to me to be the most straightforward and successful. For further information, please click on “Easiest Way to Propagate Succulents: via Stem Cuttings.”
Nursery and Garden Centers
Because they deal with so many different kinds of plants, nurseries and garden centers frequently have extra pots sitting around. You might get some pots for free if you ask the nursery employee!
Restaurants and Cafes
Make sure not to discard the containers and cups the next time you receive a package from a cafe or restaurant. The smaller ones are especially useful for cultivating succulents. They work well as excellent seed starters. They will also appear odd!
Craigslist
You might find a wide variety of containers on Craiglist that you could utilize for your garden. You should look in the “free” category; you could be surprised by what you find there!
Your Garden
You might use:
- rusty, aged, and little wheelbarrows
- watering troughs
- Making amazing pots with garden tools
- ancient tree stumps
All of these will look stunning when combined with annual flowers and other plants of your choice!
Your House
Look around your home for a variety of items that could be utilized as lovely planters, such as:
- caffeine cans
- tea pots
- cans of food
- shells of eggs
- jugs of milk
- glass containers
- stale cartons
Pet Store
It appears that every flea market and major pet retailer may have some used bird cages, cat/dog cages, or both on hand or for sale for just $1. Those cages may be converted into a wonderful hanging planter or birdcage planter with ease once you got home.
Fruit and Vegetables Market
Huge cartons, plastic crates, and containers used to convey produce may all be fantastic planters! They are simple to obtain at no cost!
Neighbourhood
Find out if your neighbors have any extra pots by asking them. Additionally, you might inquire if they have any used tires because they make excellent planters. Ask them to check their garage, don’t forget!
Shopping Centers
Shopping malls are brimming with possible goods that might be inventively used to create planters. You can ask for boxes and plastic cases, which they always have in excess of.
Some of the greatest locations to ask for pallet boards are Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree, and Costco. Using them, you might make a planter quickly.
Flea Market
If your community hosts a weekly flea market, you might be able to find some great stuff there for a really low cost or even free. Don’t pass up visiting there!
Salvage Yards
Salvage yards allow bartering, so you might trade an old item for something you believe will work as a planter in your home or garden. Relics that can be used as planters can also be found.
Pot Stores
Pot shops are willing to give you their broken or damaged inventory for free or extremely cheap. There are fantastic pots and containers for sale!
Bag Store
You can easily grow a variety of vegetables and plants in bags. Visit any local bag store in your area and ask for any items they want to give for cheap or free!
Construction Site
Even if it may seem strange at first, building sites can be full with valuable things like:
- Cement blocks
- Cans of paint
- Drums
- a toolbox
- boxes made of paper
All of these things make great planters. Additionally, the staff members there will be delighted to give you a few for no charge.
Yard Sale
A neighborhood yard sale is a terrific place to find products like:
- Kitchen cupboards
- Drawers
- dated boxes
- bathroom supplies such as buckets and tiny tubs
These can be charming and unique flower pots. Before planting, take careful to drill the drainage holes in them.