Comments on: What are some ways to reduce the drainage from a potted plant? http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/ Help with Your Blocked Drainage Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:29:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ross Cheeseman http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Ross Cheeseman Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:46:23 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-74 you don't say what the plant is, but if the water runs out fast it may have gotten TOO dry, may be pot bound, or may ba in a fast draining mix because it is a succulent (meaning it doesn't need a lot of water!). check the growing requirements for you plant. you don’t say what the plant is, but if the water runs out fast it may have gotten TOO dry, may be pot bound, or may ba in a fast draining mix because it is a succulent (meaning it doesn’t need a lot of water!). check the growing requirements for you plant.

]]> By: Dangelo Ward http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Dangelo Ward Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:21:01 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-73 Big question that nobody has asked yet -- what kind of plant is it? Some plants require you to keep the soil moist, and some require you to let it dry out completely in between waterings. How you deal with your over-drainage problem really depends on how much water you want to keep in your pot!!! If you're using good, fresh potting soil and the right kind of pot, then too much drainage shouldn't be a problem. If the soil in the pot is too compact (or too dry) then sometimes the water just runs through the cracks and drains right out, instead of soaking in. Also, if the plant has gotten too big for the pot, then it might be root bound, in which case there's not much soil left -- if you took the plant out of the pot, just about all you'd see is roots. So there's nothing to hold the water, and it's running out before your plant can drink it! Either way, it sounds like you need to re-pot the plant in fresh soil. And find out how much water the plant really needs, so you know how often to water. And I don't know if I'd agree with the maxi-pad idea... Those probably have chemicals (bleach, deoderant, sterilizers) in them that might not be good for the plants. I just put a small piece of window-screen over the hole in the bottom, to keep the soil inside and let the water drain out. Good luck! Big question that nobody has asked yet — what kind of plant is it? Some plants require you to keep the soil moist, and some require you to let it dry out completely in between waterings. How you deal with your over-drainage problem really depends on how much water you want to keep in your pot!!!

If you’re using good, fresh potting soil and the right kind of pot, then too much drainage shouldn’t be a problem. If the soil in the pot is too compact (or too dry) then sometimes the water just runs through the cracks and drains right out, instead of soaking in. Also, if the plant has gotten too big for the pot, then it might be root bound, in which case there’s not much soil left — if you took the plant out of the pot, just about all you’d see is roots. So there’s nothing to hold the water, and it’s running out before your plant can drink it!

Either way, it sounds like you need to re-pot the plant in fresh soil. And find out how much water the plant really needs, so you know how often to water.

And I don’t know if I’d agree with the maxi-pad idea… Those probably have chemicals (bleach, deoderant, sterilizers) in them that might not be good for the plants. I just put a small piece of window-screen over the hole in the bottom, to keep the soil inside and let the water drain out.

Good luck!

]]> By: Esther Cousins http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Esther Cousins Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:20:33 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-72 Re-pot and use Miracle Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix, which contains coconut fibers (coir pit) which soaks up the water, therefore, doesn't allow it to go straight to the saucer. Also, this potting mix feeds for 3 months! Only water when needed. I have never put a maxi pad in my pot, why would I have one in the first place. :) GOOD LUCK! Re-pot and use Miracle Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix, which contains coconut fibers (coir pit) which soaks up the water, therefore, doesn’t allow it to go straight to the saucer. Also, this potting mix feeds for 3 months!

Only water when needed. I have never put a maxi pad in my pot, why would I have one in the first place. :)

GOOD LUCK!

]]> By: Virginia Mcclelland http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Virginia Mcclelland Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:56:47 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-71 I always stuff a piece of diaper (or feminine product) in the bottom of my pots. The gel in them is the same stuff available at nursery centers -- but way cheaper in this form -- and absorbs an incredible amount of water. This a) really helps alleviate too much water seeping out the bottom, and b) keeps moisture readily available for the lowermost roots, where moisture should be. You also might be overwatering a touch. Just because the top layer is dry doesn't mean it needs watering -- poke your finger down about an inch to feel how dry or moist the soil feels. If your soil is too compact it will not hold water and it will drain too much -- repot, put the diaper/napkin product a the bottom of the pot, and make sure there is a good amount of peat, vermiculite and perlite mixed in with the soil -- or get a really good potting soil such as Scott's or Miracle Grow. Hope that helps. I always stuff a piece of diaper (or feminine product) in the bottom of my pots. The gel in them is the same stuff available at nursery centers — but way cheaper in this form — and absorbs an incredible amount of water. This a) really helps alleviate too much water seeping out the bottom, and b) keeps moisture readily available for the lowermost roots, where moisture should be.

You also might be overwatering a touch. Just because the top layer is dry doesn’t mean it needs watering — poke your finger down about an inch to feel how dry or moist the soil feels. If your soil is too compact it will not hold water and it will drain too much — repot, put the diaper/napkin product a the bottom of the pot, and make sure there is a good amount of peat, vermiculite and perlite mixed in with the soil — or get a really good potting soil such as Scott’s or Miracle Grow.

Hope that helps.

]]> By: Briley Chalmers http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Briley Chalmers Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:21:58 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-70 You want good drainage. Is the soil absorbing the water? If not you might have to change your planting mix and be sure to wet it down before adding the plant. When you water, you should be watering until it starts seeping out of the bottom. Then let it dry a bit, (one to two inches) until you water it again. Too much water will get you rot and those annoying little gnats. You want good drainage. Is the soil absorbing the water? If not you might have to change your planting mix and be sure to wet it down before adding the plant. When you water, you should be watering until it starts seeping out of the bottom. Then let it dry a bit, (one to two inches) until you water it again. Too much water will get you rot and those annoying little gnats.

]]> By: Journey Davy http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Journey Davy Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:25:12 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-69 Don't over water it. Less water in, less water out. Don’t over water it. Less water in, less water out.

]]> By: April Shakeshaft http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-68 April Shakeshaft Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:02:21 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-68 add some top soil to the plant. sounds like a little to much vermiculite in the existing soil mix. add some top soil to the plant. sounds like a little to much vermiculite in the existing soil mix.

]]> By: Terrell Drinkwater http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Terrell Drinkwater Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:20:19 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-67 repot it. when you do put some rocks in the bottom and use miracle grow soil. it helps absorb water better. and water it little by little. pour in a few ounces, wait to see if any drains out, pour more---etc. then stop once the water starts coming out the bottom. then you can also get an idea of how much water the plant actually needs, so you dont overwater. repot it. when you do put some rocks in the bottom and use miracle grow soil. it helps absorb water better.
and water it little by little. pour in a few ounces, wait to see if any drains out, pour more—etc. then stop once the water starts coming out the bottom. then you can also get an idea of how much water the plant actually needs, so you dont overwater.

]]> By: Anais Dwyer http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Anais Dwyer Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:38:07 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-66 Put a sponge in the bottom of the pot. Put a sponge in the bottom of the pot.

]]> By: Brisa Morris http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Brisa Morris Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:30:32 +0000 http://www.drainages.co.uk/what-are-some-ways-to-reduce-the-drainage-from-a-potted-plant/#comment-65 the cork pad goes under the drip pan not in it the cork pad goes under the drip pan not in it

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