Large drain holes in clay pots

I am repotting my house plants to put them outside for the season. I did not have enough larger-sized pots to accommodate some of my larger plants so I went to my local Home Depot. I purchased some 18" and larger clay pots without looking too closely at them. I was focused on the size and wall thickness. When I got them home and started using them, I noticed the drain holes in the bottom were huge --- 1.5" diameter. I normally use coffee filters or used dryer sheets to cover the drain holes. I have learned the hard way that if I double or triple layer the filters or sheets for strength, it dramatically reduces the water flow through the drainage holes. During past summers I have lost plants because of the inadequate drainage from the pots. Is window screening strong enough to hold back the potting mix? I have my doubts and I would hate to find out the hard way that I was right.What do you folks use to cover the larger drain holes? Thanks for your help.

I use broken pot shards to cover the holes..I always have plenty of those given the state of my stack of pots!! They allow great drainage and with using a couple there is very little soil let through.

I use those foam peanuts, a layer large enough to prevent soil from falling through. This also lightens those very large pots, and uses less soil. Roots can still grow down through the layer, of course.

I usually cut a bit of plastic screen to put in the bottom of large pots along with some marbles or pea gravel, it works fine .. The p-nut idea is a good one too . .. for really large containers I put in empty jugs or soda bottles or partially composted grass clippings in about half to 3/4 of the pot then potting medium. I have found that the grass clippings cause plants to Super Size themselves. I found this out when my Datura turned into monsters. You might also want to start using a peat based potting mix like ProMix BX. It's very light and much better for roots. I quit using soil over 3 years ago and everything does so much better.

X

Xeramtheum --- (what does that name mean?) --- I really am intrigued by the grass clippings method. Something I never would have come up with on my own. What exactly do you mean by "plastic screening"? The only screening material I am aware of is the galvanized or fiberglass window screening. Is it readily available (e.g., Home Depot, Lowes, local hardware stores, etc) and I just have never noticed it? Or is it more difficult to find? If the latter, where do you get yours? Great idea- using grass clippings as pot filler! Thanks for your help. PS: ProMix is my potting mix; has been for quite a while.

This message was edited May 14, 2006 11:44 PM

I use shards and small tiles with ridges on the bottom, bottom side down. (I ended up with piles of these from a tile setter once.) I also cut up old pantyhose.

X, Where are you buying your ProMix? The last time I went to Cross to buy it they wanted $35.00 a bale; a huge increase from earlier purchases there. I passed on that and then happened to find it in Walterboro for $19.00.

Wow, they've whomped it up to $35 a bale now? .. Where in Walterboro? Since the Cross Garden Center closed here in Summerville I drive down to Cross/Folly twice a year and buy 3 bales at a time. Last price I paid was $29. That was in late Fall though. I'm starting on my 2nd bale and will probably need more by July now that everything in the greenhouse is going nuts.

YardMan, the grass clippings was a total surprise to me. In desperation I filled up my 2 datura containers with them last Spring because I was down to my last bale of ProMix and the Datura were screaming to be put in a permanent home for the Summer. By June, they were becoming frightening, growing like crazy .. by July they were threatening the house. Remember, these guys were in containers!. I learned later that decomposing grass clippings produce a lot of nitrogen and phosphourus as well as heat and is probably why they went crazy. This year I've planted Black Currant Swirl in the same containers. As to the screen, it's probably that fiberglass stuff.

I don't remember where Xeramtheum came from .. It's probably a creative spelling of something else.

X

This message was edited May 15, 2006 8:29 PM

Wow, I didn't know the Summerville Cross closed although there have been a lot of other changes since the company was sold.

I got the ProMix at a feed and seed type place (maybe Walterboro Farm & Garden Center?). From Summerville it would be a bit south of Walterboro on 17/63 south, Jeffreys Hwy. It was on the right hand side of the road.

The ProMix has some additives now like mychorizhia (sp?) and a wetting agent. I wasn't thrilled with that but the plants seem to love it and it and whatever the wetting agent is, it is amazing.