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Protecting floors from water

sandyslopes z5 n. UT

8 years ago

What do you have underneath your planters to protect your floors? I've got everything I need to repot some houseplants in some dark gray, heavy ceramic planters, and then I realized I don't have this important step covered.

I was planning to use a double plastic bottom. Lowes had some extra thick ones I was planning on using, but I'm unsure if the plastic will hold. A leak would be disastrous.

Featured Answer

stonetreehouse

8 years ago

When I water, I water deeply and thoroughly, so I take my plants to the sink in the laundry room and leave them there until they are finished actively draining. Then I return them to their places, where they have glazed saucers or plastic catch trays under them. I have tile floor, but I don't want it stained, so I'm pretty careful and have never had a major leak. My hanging plants do not have saucers at all so I leave them in the sink for a couple of hours on watering day to give them a chance to completely drain; then I wipe their exterior pot down pretty well before returning them to their hanging hook. On some of the really large ones, I place a towel on the floor to catch any drips for the rest of the day. By evening, I can usually just remove the towel.

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Comments (7)

christine 5b
8 years ago
I have a collection of miscellaneous plates & platters I've collected from the thrift store.
sandyslopes z5 n. UT thanked christine 5b
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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I have used large shoe trays. I find them quite good, they are reasonable large and sturdy. But I always lift it once-in-a-while (as I would with any trays sitting directly on wood) and double check in case some water got splashed and got underneath it, or perhaps it just got 'sweaty' from lack of air circulation. Depending on how often plants get watered - maybe 1x in month or two.

If sturdy enough, I put little 'feet' to keep from the floor - plastic bottle caps are excellent for this.

I have some large metal trays, but do the same.

Rina
sandyslopes z5 n. UT thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Thomas (Zone 7b - NYC)
8 years ago
Plastic trays are typically okay, the ones you buy from gardening sections, just double up on them as you mentioned. I also water in the sink, or the shower. It's just convenient tbh, plus you don't have to worry about draining those plastic trays with the risk of spilling them all over your floor. Keep it simple :)
sandyslopes z5 n. UT thanked Thomas (Zone 7b - NYC)
MrBlubs
8 years ago
I uses ceramic and plastic saucers.

I water all my plants in the sink and tub too but for plants I can't move (Philodendron tapped to wall) or there just big and a hassle (Majesty palm) I water in sips untill I see water coming out then I stop. Then I use a towel and soak up the remain water at the bottom.
sandyslopes z5 n. UT thanked MrBlubs
sandyslopes z5 n. UT
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the ideas! Some of them are outside the box from anything I was considering.

I like the idea of taking them to the sink or shower, but these will be way too heavy to do that. Once they're in place, they're going stay there, so that's why I need to find them a base they're going to stay on.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
8 years ago
A turkey baster can also help remove water from drip trays of plants that are too heavy to move around.
sandyslopes z5 n. UT thanked Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

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