Do you think adding items for drainage is necessary?

[Mandix]

I personally only think adding things for potted plants is necessary if it does not contain a hole at the bottom of the container. This is especially good for beginner gardeners, who may be prone to over watering. When I first began, I used small rocks to help, so I didn't kill all of my plants. I've saved some pistachio shells for when ever I feel like starting again.

If you do use stuff like that for drainage, what is your favorite?

 

[firelily99]

It does help in that the plant roots are not sitting in water all of the time. Generally I use broken pieces of the clay pots or small rocks. You don't need anything elaborate, you just need to use something that is non-toxic and will last.

 

[gata montes]

I personally wouldn't advise anyone to plant anything in a pot without drainage holes - as even if you place crocks in the bottom - as there is no way of the water escaping if there are no drainage holes - each time the plant is watered the more the water builds up until eventually the plant meets an untimely demise - due to the fact that its roots were permanently sitting in water.

All plants need good drainage in order to thrive and for that reason - I always make sure that all my pots have plenty of drainage holes together with some form of extra drainage material like broken crocks, pebbles or even gravel and when I have either very small pots or ones that adding crocks would make them to heavy to lift - I use fly screen or some form of mesh to line the bottom of the pots.

 

[firelily99]

Probably the worst thing that you can do for a plant is to not only overwater it but have the roots sitting in water. When the roots are constantly sitting in water it basically is drowning. I always have drainage holes in my pots and always have drainage material in the bottom.