Hi there
I have "mislaid" my gravel somewhere, and my publicalyx cv Pink Silver desperately needs potting up. I currently have a new pot for it, but it doesn't have any holes (I could drill some holes, but I'd need to buy a screwdriver, and I've never used one before) . I recently got something throught the post the other day that had those polystyrene bits used for packaging. I wondered if I could recycle this by using it in the bottom of my new pot to stop my plant being in direct contact with any excess water.
Thoughts? Ideas? Is it toxic?
Polystyrene packaging for drainage?
I use these all the time in my big heavy pots. Make sure they are the poly kind, not the starch buy putting one in a cup of water. If it floats, you are okay.
You will still have to be careful of over watering if you don't have drain holes.
Good Luck!
I have a pink silver (my first one) in a clay hanging pot with no drainage, I bought it in this pot, and it has been in there about 17 or 18 years. This plant has always been healthy, and has been blooming regularly since it was approx 10 or 12 yrs old. There is no drainage material in the bottom of the pot. I think with clay, you can get away with not having drainage holes. I wouldn't recommend it, but as long as you are careful not to overwater, especially indoors, it can be done. Clay breathes, and it dries out quickly. My main issue with this particular plant right now is that it is soooo pot bound, and has been for years....which has helped keep it in bloom, I'm sure!
As for the styrofoam bits, if that is what you mean, I have read and seen that alot of people use them whole or chop them up even smaller and mix them into their potting soil for better drainage, so I don't think they are particularly toxic, they are probably fine, or at least as fine as any other modern synthetic material.
I put them in my big (talking 15gal. plus)pots to reduce the weight!!! Also crushed pop cans (until we could redeem them for 5cents each.