A Lesson Learned About Drainage Holes in a Bad Place

13 years ago

This past spring I decided to try and root a Pineapple top.

I had many pots laying around from nursery plants and reused one of them.

A day after watering, I picked up the pot to take a closer look at my plant, and was surprised when water poured out onto my foot!

After taking a closer look, I discovered why. The drain holes in this pot sat high, leaving area's that held water!

I've since then checked all the pots that I have. Some , including my Terra cotta's have the hole in the center, but it sits high, leaving an area all the way around the pot to hold water.

Others are similar to this one.

So I will spend tomorrow drilling holes in many of my pots!

Just because they have drainage holes, doesn't mean they are in a "good" place.

Despite all this, the pinapple rooted and has done very well.

It has all new leaves. I belive it's in a 6" pot, and is about 12-14" across now. New leaves always forming!

It's still in the same pot, I just make sure to tip it and get all the water drained out. :-)

After the Holiday's I will find her a more stylish container. ;-)

JoJo

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Comments (12)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years ago
Something to pay attention to, for sure. ;o)

Al
jodik_gw
13 years ago
Hanging baskets are really known for this... some of the typical 8 to 10 inch plastic variety, especially. They have a black tray/saucer like piece that sits inside, upside down... and it creates a little reservoir where excess water sits. I usually tip them at an angle after watering to let any leftover water run out.

I'm currently growing some young Hippeastrum bulbs in hanging baskets of this type. I don't have anywhere else close enough to a light source, but the hanging area above the window is bare... so it's perfect. They get the light they need, and they're young enough where large floppy leaves aren't yet an issue.

I actually got a pineapple top to root a couple of years ago... and I killed it with kindness... not to mention a pot of fine particled, perpetually soggy soil.

Good find, JoJo... I wonder how many people actually realize there's a small reservoir created by drainage holes of this type...
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filix
13 years ago
I have run into this myself in the past. I'm sure most of us have. I also hate when the holes take up part of the bottom and side. It makes putting in a screen a pain. filix
jojosplants
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi Everyone!
Al~ Trust me, I will from now on! :-) I got one of my Terra Cotta's dirlled today.. Several more to do. No hurry, need to make more mix. ;-)

The reason it took me so long to find this is I was watering on a grate over a bucket. It always drained out fast, so I didn't realize it had some in reserve till I picked it up on day and tipped it.

Jodi~
I got to looking at the many different types of pots i've saved over the years, and most of them are going to need new holes put in them.

I'm sure there are many out there that don't realize it, like me , so that's the reason for this post. ;-).

Filix,
I know the type of pot your talking about, and yes they are a pain! lol..It takes a little moulding to get the screen to stay put.

I also have some with catch trays attached that I am going to add new holes to. I'm the type of person that will forget to tip it after watering. ;-).

JoJo
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years ago
Hey, JoJo!
If only that water flowing out the bottom were pineapple juice! Mmmmm!
Good job with that delicious plant! ;)

Now you just need a lime and a coconut...

Josh
jojosplants
Original Author
13 years ago
Hey Josh!
Too funny! lol..
Now Pineapple and coconut are my main weakness's! lol!
I'll have to figure out a way to share the first pinapple! You did help me with this way back.;-)

It's a beautiful plant, and i'm so pleased no brown tips! It's doing well!

Jodi~
You'll have to try rooting one again, in the gritty mix, and treat it like I treat my Amaryllis ;-)

JoJo
kemistry
13 years ago
jojo, prior to seeing your pictures it had never occurred to me to use pieces of screen to cover up those drainage holes. This is exactly what I need; great idea!

Where did you buy the material at? I wonder if the big boxes (home depot, walmart) have them?
jojosplants
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi Kemistry,
Yes, big box stores, and even wal mart, any hardware store.

I just learned today in another post.. The best kind to use.

Here's a quote from Al (tapla)

>>I use aluminum screen for screening and Fiberglas screen for covering drain holes. >>

So it looks like fiberglass is the best for covering holes.

I'm not sure what mine is, i know it's not the cloth type. :)

I'll look for fiberglass for future use. ;-)

JoJo
kemistry
13 years ago
Thanks JoJo! I will stop by Home Depot this weekend; just checked with them online and they do have the fiberglass screen. :)
jojosplants
Original Author
13 years ago
Your welcome! :-)
JoJo
jodik_gw
13 years ago
If you don't plan to keep a plant in a pot for a particularly long time, coffee filters work pretty well to cover any excess of drainage holes a pot may have. The paper filters do disintegrate, but they work well at holding in the medium on a temporary basis... I use them when I'm rooting things, but plan to bump pot size in a relatively short time. They're also easy to cut for proper fit. Screen is, of course, better for longer term use.

I have had surprising luck getting roots to form using turface and my own rendition of Al's Mix... maybe I will try another pineapple top one of these days, JoJo! That is, IF I can locate a pineapple on sale! ;-)
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Jojo:

Cool design for a pot and a great catch on the holes on the bottom...I don't think many would even give this a thought..Great point made..Could be the reason why so many loose their plants in such a short time..

Even when it comes to clay, you have to watch out as you say..

I always make it a habit to pound, bang out the bottom of my clay pots with a chisel and hammer to make a bigger center hole in the larger ones, and then put screen on the bottom for much better drainage.

Sometimes, I even find that the little 4inch clay pots don't let the water out because the little hole gets blocked..I usually widen these just a bit more..I know people that even forget to take the price sticker off on the bottom blocking the hole.

Growing pianapple too? Not bad!

I heard that someone here on the forums has an Avacado grafted tree with fruit on it already..I have got to get my hands on one of those..lol

Have a great day to you and all..

Thanks again..

Mike

A Lesson Learned About Drainage Holes in a Bad Place

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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

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