How to replace expanded clay in a flower pot. Drainage for indoor flowers

The creation of soil for indoor plants should be done in a manner similar to a natural process in nature.

After heavy rainfall, the water is absorbed by the vegetation, partially retained by the upper soil, and the surplus goes into the groundwater.

The exception to this rule is wetlands, but less than 5% of the plants grow on them. You can create a favorable soil environment for your flowerpot with drainage.

Drainage in crop production- a water-permeable material that is usually poured into the bottom of the pot in order to quickly drain off excess water that forms after watering. Sometimes the drainage material is sprinkled with sand.

For these purposes, you need to use only coarse sand so that it does not wash out when watering. The drainage system also includes drain holes.

What is drainage used for?

Drainage for indoor flowers is as important as the soil. Many indoor flowers do not like when their root system is too humid. If the roots of some plants are immersed in water for more than 1-2 hours, they can suffocate without oxygen and die.

Also, if a nutrient solution remains in the pot after fertilizing the soil, then with excess moisture often there is deposition and accumulation of salts, which can burn the roots and entail negative consequences for indoor flower.

What are drain holes and why are they needed?

The pot must contain there is a possibility draining excess water. For this, holes are made at the bottom of the pot, which are called drainage holes.

Their number can vary from one to one and a half dozen, depending on the characteristics and needs of the flower.

If there are no holes in the pot, then you can make them yourself without any problems. AND humidity control the soil begins already at this stage: the thicker the holes, the faster the water will come out of the pot, and the more oxygen will be received by the root system.

The number of holes has a similar effect on moisture removal and soil oxygenation.

Drain hole over time, it can become clogged with soil mixture, drainage or roots. Therefore, it must be checked periodically, especially when it is one. If you notice that the hole is clogged, it should be cleaned. A wooden or other stick will work for this.

Drainage types

Drainage can be done from expanded clay, pieces of ceramics, broken bricks, crushed stone (gravel) and foam.

Expanded clay drainage can be bought in specialized flower shops... It is created by firing clay and has the property of absorbing moisture. Main advantages: availability and light weight. Expanded clay is also used as a building material. But the price of finished drainage can be overpriced.

In building stores, you can buy a whole bag, while the price per unit of weight will be much less. This drainage will last for a long time. Sometimes it is possible to find points of sale of construction expanded clay by kilograms.

In home floriculture, it is customary use grains of small (diameter 5-10 mm) or medium (10-20 mm) sizes of expanded clay. When choosing the size, it should be noted that the grains should not be smaller than the drainage holes, as they will spill out. For larger plants, medium-sized grains are used.

Expanded clay should be laid evenly on the bottom of the pot with a layer thickness of 1 to 3 cm. Sometimes a layer of sand is also sprinkled on top. After that, you can lay the soil and plant the plant.

A layer of fine expanded clay on the surface of the earthen mixture will help protect the soil from drying out, prevent the appearance of a crust that impedes the passage of air and water, as well as the appearance of moss and mold.

With your own hands you can make drainage for flowers on a ceramic base. To do this, you need earthenware or its fragments. Raw material you need to break into small pieces and lay on the bottom of the pot with the convex side up.

Broken brick. Like the previous materials, it is made from clay and has hygroscopic properties. It should be laid with a thickness of 1-3 cm at the bottom of the pot. As a rule, the pieces can have sharp edges, so they should be insulated from access to the roots with a layer of sand.

Gravel and crushed stone- materials that can also be used for drainage. They are created by nature, their naturalness is 100%. They have excellent water permeability.

When used as a drainage, the disadvantage can be heavy weight, which can significantly burden the weight of the flowerpot. But in cases where you need to do lush flowermore sustainable, this material will allow you to catch the crane and hold the tit.

Styrofoam can also be used to pass moisture. It is made of polymer, does not grow moldy, does not lend itself to bacteria and fungi, has good thermal insulation properties, does not absorb and passes water well. You don't always need to buy styrofoam. You can simply save it from the packaging of previously purchased goods. Then the cost of drainage can be zero.

All of these properties positively characterize the foam as a material for drainage, but its softness acts as a disadvantage - the roots are able to grow into it, and subsequent careless removal can damage them.

When making drainage, the foam is torn or cut into pieces and a layer about 2 cm thick is made.

It is advisable to separate it from the roots of the plant. a layer of sand.

Drainage replacement

When transplanting plants should pay attention to the state of drainage. If it is normal, then replacement is not necessary. But it is advisable to disinfect the material by washing with a manganese solution or subjecting it to heat / steam treatment. If the destruction of expanded clay due to exposure to water is detected, the drainage should be replaced. Styrofoam it is recommended to change with each flower transplant.

This list of drainage types is not exhaustive. For this purpose, you can use other materials. The main thing is that they pass water well and are safe for indoor plants.

Necessarily use drainage in home crop production to protect pets from waterlogging and related diseases. They will surely thank you for their care with their beauty, rapid growth and splendor.

And for the most curious, we suggest that you watch a video about drainage systems that allow you to create automatic irrigation and control the level of soil moisture over a long period.

The drainage is a special layer made of various materials, the main role of which is to remove excess water from the ground. People who have been dealing with plants or flowers for years place great emphasis on the importance of having the right drainage system.

What is a drainage system for?

Drainage is vital important system for the health and growth of indoor plants. The fact is that many of your green favorites do not like it when their root system is too moist.

This question requires you to keep the following soil balance: water should make up one third, solids half, and the rest should be air. In order to comply with these conditions, you can calculate the volume of the pot, temperature, humidity, watering frequency, rate of water consumption, and much more, but it will be better and easier to choose the right drainage.

If there is an excess of moisture, the soil will not contain those 15% of the air that is vital for the plant, this can lead to the development of pathogenic bacteria.

Therefore, do not be lazy, pay due attention to this issue, because having solved it correctly, you can protect the plant from many problems along with diseases.

What can you make it out of?

Drainage can be made from a variety of materials, the main condition is that it allows water to pass through, is resistant to decay and is resistant to fungi.

Here are the most popular, well-established materials for this task: expanded clay, fine crushed stone and gravel, broken brick, ceramic shards, charcoal, moss, and others, including artificial material(such as polystyrene).

Depending on the needs of the plant, large, medium and small fractions of materials are used.

Below we will analyze the components in more detail:

Expanded clay... It is a thermally treated clay with a porous structure. It captivates with its availability: every gardening store has it, and even in several versions, it depends on the size of the granules.
It is best to use small and medium expanded clay for these purposes, its dimensions are 5-10 and 10-20 mm, respectively.
But it should be noted that it does not last forever: after 5 years, expanded clay will turn into something similar to soil, so sometimes it needs to be replaced. A huge plus is that it not only removes water, but also absorbs it into its pores.
The thickness of the expanded clay layer in a pot without a drainage hole should be about 4-5 cm, if there is one, then 1-2 cm.
Crushed stone and gravel... It is a crushed rock of gravel, waste of the mining industry. There are many options for crushed stone: from granite, gravel, limestone, slag, or secondary raw materials. Limestone crushed stone can only be suitable for plants that are favorably influenced by calcium. If you decide to stay on rubble from recycled materials, then only brick is suitable for drainage.
Gravel and granite are more suitable and very affordable, but you may be perplexed by the news that they have some radioactivity. In addition, heavy severity may seem like a significant disadvantage at first glance. Of course, if you use it as a drain for large ceramic or even plastic pots, this is certainly true. But what if you are dealing with a plant whose deciduous system is quite massive, and the root system is very small, like that of. You will not be able to use a large one for it because there is too much risk of flooding it, and a small one will be unstable. It is in this situation that it is worth remembering about such drainage material as crushed stone.
Broken brick use with caution as it often has sharp edges that can injure root system... Depending on the clay from which it is made, as well as on the method of firing, it has a different ability to absorb moisture. For example, drainage from white sand-lime brick absorbs and retains water better than red.
Ceramic shards also often used by placing them on top of the hole in the bottom with the concave side down. As a rule, coarse-grained sand is poured on top of them with a height of several centimeters for small dishes and about 5 centimeters for large ones. You have to be careful, because shards can also damage the fragile root system of plants when they are transplanted.
Styrofoam is an affordable material that can be easily found inside packing boxes, it can be shredded and then used as a drain. Its undoubted advantage is its low weight, which makes it possible to use it in heavy earthenware. The foam does not absorb water, allowing it to drain downward, thereby protecting the roots from excess moisture. Not without its drawbacks: gradually the roots can sprout through the pieces of styrofoam, which will add hassle to you when transplanting.
Charcoal- it is, first of all, an excellent natural antiseptic, as well as a natural fertilizer, it perfectly prevents rotting and absorbs salts, thereby regulating soil moisture. When the soil dries up, it gradually gives it back the previously absorbed water with minerals, nourishing the plant. Lightness and porous structure makes it undoubtedly one of the most convenient components of its kind. A two-centimeter layer evenly laid on the bottom is enough.
Perlite and vermiculite... From clay, subject to very high temperatures, vermiculite is made, due to which the minerals that make up its composition merge together, forming a kind of scales. From the outside it may seem like wood shavings. Perlite looks like small white granules, or gray and is a volcanic rock. These two substances absorb well nutrients with water, and then as the soil dries up, give them to it. The disadvantage may be their high cost. Moisten the substances, then place them on the bottom, spreading so that the layer is no more than 2 centimeters.
Care should be taken when working with perlite or vermiculite, since their contact with the mucous membrane can have unpleasant consequences.
It will perfectly cope with the task of retaining moisture, and then transferring it to the plant when necessary. Its use can have a healing and disinfecting effect. Moss is convenient because it can be prepared at any time of the year, most often in autumn. Fresh moss needs to be poured warm water with a temperature of up to 45 ° C, which will fill it with moisture, as well as get rid of various microorganisms and insects. Store it in cool place, and in winter - right in the cold. This can be done in half-opened bags so that he can breathe. While multiplying, moss retains its properties. The only drawback may be that moss is not always available, you can collect it yourself, or you can buy it. Its price will also not please anyone who wants to use moss as a drainage material.

What kind of drain to use?

It all depends on what properties you need, you can choose one or another option.

If it is important to you practicality and availability- then it can be expanded clay, crushed stone or shards.
Desiring heal a plant, use moss.
Needing in a lightweight, practical component, it is worth stopping your gaze on foam.

It is best not to guess, but to determine what is most important for you, what function the drainage material should perform, than you are willing to sacrifice for this.

Drainage device

If it is a free-flowing material, it is a layer up to several centimeters, the thickness of which depends on the parameters of the pot or on the component itself. If it comes about solid parts, then again they should be put on the bottom of the pot, only then covered with earth, burying your plant in the ground. In the description for each material separately, you will find how to perform the correct drainage.

For the most comfortable plant development experienced gardeners recommend creating a favorable atmosphere for the flower. External factors sunshine, air humidity, temperature can be considered influencing the growth and development of a flower environment and drainage system. And that's pretty important point, because properly selected drainage can significantly affect both the flower itself and the mistakes in care. Read about how to drain the site.

Drainage for flowers - what is it?

Flower drainage is a system that allows excess moisture to be removed through the flower's root system and soil layer. A plant is a living organism, therefore, it needs to breathe. All parts of the plant need access to oxygen:

Leaves;
Root system;

If the grower floods the flower with water for any reason, it will literally displace all oxygen bubbles from the soil layer. The anaerobic environment promotes the development of various kinds of bacteria. An airless environment leads to decay of the root system, the flower withers as a result.

The essence of the "work" of the drainage system is to remove excess moisture from the plant and allow the root system to breathe without problems. Read on and how to seat him.

Therefore, each flower needs:

Have at least one small drainage hole at the base of the flowerpot. It is necessary so that excess water comes out through it, plus this hole makes it possible to circulate air.
At the very bottom of the pot, it is necessary to lay out a layer of 2-5 cm (depending on the type of plant) drainage.

Drainage for flowers, photo varieties

Today, you can not only buy drainage for a plant in a flower shop, but also make it yourself.

There are various types of drainage for flowers:

expanded clay drainage for flowers, the most sold and popular type of drainage. Only some types of fractions (fine and medium) are used for drainage;
Styrofoam as a drainage agent for flowers is the most readily available substance ever used to create a drainage system. It is not affected by mold, is moisture resistant, chemically inert and does not decompose;

drainage based on pieces of tiles or ceramic, only a few pieces of earthenware are needed for drainage;
drainage from crushed stone and gravel, it is often used on garden plots, such a drainage system will last for many years;

drainage from sphagnum moss. Best drainage option for indoor plants. Capable of retaining moisture, disinfectant;

charcoal drainage. Possesses good antiseptic properties, can be used as a fertilizer;
broken brick drainage. Not the most the best way for drainage. Sharp corners can damage the root system of the plant;

Vermiculite drainage perfectly absorbs liquid fertilizers and water. It can serve as a top dressing months after it has been carried out.

at the place of application:

drainage for indoor flowers;
drainage for garden plants;

How to make drainage for flowers in the garden?

In order to create a drainage system on personal plot necessary:

choose the material from which the drainage will be performed;
prepare the second layer (most often sand is used for the second layer);
and also "get hold of" a soil-soil mixture;

After all have been collected necessary elements to create drainage, you will need:

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Drainage is essential for indoor plants... Drainage is a bulk material with particles of 1–2 cm in size, but not less than 0.5 cm. The material must be waterproof, allow water to pass through and not collapse under prolonged exposure to moisture.

When planting indoor plants, drainage is applied to the bottom of the pot. The imposed drainage layer serves to drain excess water after watering, it flows between the gaps of large particles and goes into the sump through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. After watering the plant, after about an hour, the accumulated water is drained from the pan. After removing excess water from the ground, air passes to the roots of the plant. Thanks to this regime, the plant will develop successfully, the roots receive enough moisture and air, do not rot, and the soil in the pot does not sour.

The drainage layer should be 1-3 cm high, and for some plants it is recommended to lay the drainage on a third of the pot when planting.

Drainage can be from different materials- expanded clay, from broken clay shards of old dishes, broken bricks, river pebbles, crushed stone, gravel or pieces of foam.

Most often, flower growers use expanded clay drainage... This material is also used in construction, but in flower shops it can be bought in small packages. Expanded clay has all the qualities for arranging a drainage layer when planting indoor plants. Expanded clay absorbs a small amount of moisture, which it gives off when the earth dries up, excess water quickly drains between the expanded clay fractions due to its round shape. In addition, expanded clay is quite light and its use as drainage will not weigh down the already weighty pot with the plant. Expiration date of expanded clay is 5-6 years, after this time it begins to deteriorate and is replaced with a new one, but until that time you can use the same drainage layer by pouring it into new pot when transplanting, pre-rinsing in water with potassium permanganate for disinfection.

Expanded clay is often used as mulch, scattering it over the surface of the earth in a pot. Expanded clay layer on the surface will protect upper layer the soil from drying out, the formation of a crust that prevents the passage of water and air in depth to the roots of the plant, the appearance of mold and moss.

Ceramic dishes and bricks, as well as expanded clay, is made from fired clay, so these materials have the same properties. Break an old pottery or brick into small fractions and use them boldly as a drain. So that the sharp edges of the fragments do not damage the delicate roots of the plant on top of the imposed drainage layer, pour a layer of sand 1-2 cm, then a layer of earth, then plant the plant.

Gravel and crushed stone also refer to building materials and are crushed and small stone. The drainage layer of stones allows water to pass through well, it is durable, since it does not collapse at all, but heavy, so it will add weight to the pot with the plant. Also, the stone does not retain heat well, placing a pot with a stone layer on a cold windowsill, the roots of the plant may suffer from cooling.

Styrofoam always at hand, from the packaging of goods. After breaking it into small pieces, use Styrofoam to create a drainage layer when planting indoor plants. This material is chemically neutral, does not rot or mold, does not absorb water and passes it well. Also, a drainage foam layer will protect the roots of the plant from cooling. But there is one drawback - it is soft and delicate plant roots can grow into it, which will have to be cut off during transplantation. Put a layer of sand and some earth on a layer of pieces of foam and start planting the plant.

When planting indoor plants, be sure to use drainage from any of the above materials, this will protect your plants from excessive waterlogging and unwanted consequences caused by it. Should not be used as drainage organic materials- egg shells, tree bark, nut shells, charcoal. Since organic materials are exposed to moisture, they grow moldy, rot, change the acidity of the soil, which leads to a deterioration in conditions for plant growth and the development of putrefactive diseases.