Last Updated on December 17, 2023 by Kimberly Crawford
Have you ever thought of planting succulent plants on containers that do not have drainage holes? Every instructor will tell you that the succulents do not need water. Yes, it is true, that is why well-draining soils always come first when it is about the houseplants. Now, how about the containers with no drainage holes? Will, it hurt your plant?
You intend to keep it safe from rotting because excessive water will make them rot. It becomes even riskier when you begin growing your plants in a pot with no drainage holes since it will mean that you are exposing a lot of water to a plant that does not necessarily need water. Find out all the steps you need to take care of when you plant your succulent plant in a pot with no drainage hole.
The pot that you will use should have a layer of gravel, rocks, or even pebbles. The size of the Rocks and Pebbles you will use will vary depending on the size. In instances where you are using a larger container, you will need larger rocks to cover a better depth.
You will need a layer of the cactus mix to place above the pebbles. You intend to raise the root ball a little higher from the rim of the pot, and this is where the cacti mix will be playing a role here.
It may be necessary to add some compost to give it that healthy growth. Allow some time for the plat to utilize all the available water before you begin the next step.
Steps that will be useful when dealing with containers with no drainage holes
Watering it sparingly should be the first step when you are dealing with a container with no drainage hole. You don’t need to do watering when you are sure that the excess may cause your houseplant to begin rotting.
You can always be on a safe side when you water it, then tilting the container to get rid of excess water. Your plant does not need surplus water, but sufficient water that will keep the soil moist. It implies that the state of the soil after watering should be moist but not flooding.
The second step that you can try is using a double planter. The trick here is that you will be having two containers where one of them, which is the larger one do have a drainage hole.
The small container will need to have at least four drainage holes. Place your succulent plant in this pot liner and water it properly. The excess water will drain into a larger container that has gravel linings. It is a tiresome experience, but of course, not for the succulent lovers.
Here, you will need to allow some time for it to drain excess water. It may be necessary once the drainage is over to lift the smaller container and drain the excess water in a larger container. Take back your little container and allow it to grow.
Watering the succulents after planting
Succulent plants will do well when planted in areas with little or no water. If you will decide to plant them, make sure that you are doing this using measuring tools. The water you will be giving to your plant should be controlled when you are sure that your container does have the drainage holes.
Watering will vary depending on the seasons. You can opt to water it once after two weeks during the summers and fall because it is the time that your plant will be feeding.
During winters, you will need to reduce watering. You can do it once a month or, you can even leave it altogether. Your succulent plant will need watering in regions which have desert-like characteristics.
Light, temperature and size of the succulent plant will determine the amount of water that you will need to give to your plant. Check the size of the root ball to help you determine the amount of water that will keep it moist throughout the harsh seasons.
It won’t hurt your succulent plant if you will ignore it during the winters. The plant is in its dormant state, and it may not require any water.
Summer seasons may not be best for the succulent plants that grow in a pot with no drainage holes. Make sure that the plant is not receiving the rainwater during summers. Excess water may cause it to suffer fungal diseases due to excess water that is retained in the pots. Transfer them to a protected place to ensure that it is not being rained-on.
Summary
In summary, it will be best practice to do an under watering when you are dealing with succulent plants in a container without a drainage hole. It will be good if the plant dries out between the watering because any excess water can bring devastating issues to your plant.
Planting the succulent houseplants in a pot with no drainage hole should always not be an option because these plants will need proper drainage.
You will only pay attention to the steps above when you have no choice, and the only pot you can find is the one without a drainage hole. Always be mean when it comes to watering because the succulent plants can survive even without them.