Reply To: Keep Soil in Pots with Drainage Holes

[E. Vinje]

Hi Jeremy –

A high-quality potting media should have enough cohesion to hold itself together and not spill through the drainage holes. For sandy soils, you can moisten the media and then fill the pot, or line the bottom of the pot with a coffee filter to prevent spillage. Plants need the drainage holes to prevent root rot and other moisture related problems. Do not add pot shards or gravel to the bottom of the container, this can actually decrease drainage. Also, never allow plants to sit in a saucer of water.

I’ve attached a link to our Container Gardening 101 article. It’s filled with helpful tips and techniques for gardening in pots.

https://www.planetnatural.com/container-gardening/

Hope this helps!