By Mona
India
Should pebbles be put as a first layer before soil in a pot?
Why?
- 23 Nov, 2012
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pebbles
Answers
I always add a few crocks,or some Polystyrene pieces,in the bottom,to aid drainage,Mona..and to stop the soil leaching out,but not a layer of pebbles or grit..If it is seasonal bedding,however,I half fill the pot with the Polystyrene type stuff you get with packed items..broken up into pieces..the annuals don't need a full pot of compost,as they usually only have a small root system....just a waste..grit added to it though,is helpful...
23 Nov, 2012
a little bit of jayes cloth over the hole or holes allows you to fill right up with soil but stops the watering washing the soil out .
23 Nov, 2012
As NP says, though I use the metal foil sold for car repair.
23 Nov, 2012
I put some small upturned plant pots in my larger pots to take up some space, saves on compost.
23 Nov, 2012
Lizzie, if you cover the holes does that not foil the purpose of the holes?
23 Nov, 2012
I'm with bulbaholic on this one - the only time I 'crock' a pot is if it has only one drainage hole, like most terracotta pots. So, compost straight in. Jeycloth over the bottom does help prevent ants from getting in though, without blocking drainage.
23 Nov, 2012
Oh yes,I use a Jeycloth too :o)
23 Nov, 2012
We Master Gardeners used to recommend a layer of gravel in the bottom of the pot "for drainage", but we found out that that actually slows drainage. Nowadays, we just recommend a piece of plastic window screen, or counted cross stitch screen, over the drainage hole, to keep too much compost from washing out.
24 Nov, 2012
So no covering holes for I have more than one in my pots.
I have bought many new pots not they'll all have compost without the pebbles and hopefully give me nice new plants. Thanks to all. :)
24 Nov, 2012
Your welcome
24 Nov, 2012
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I never put a layer of pebbles in the bottom of a pot but fill it directly with compost. This is so that the plant can be watered from below the pot rather than pouring water over the plant. Many of my pots sit on a grit tray, sand plunge or on the soil snd a grit layer in the pot would prevent the compost from wicking up water from below.
23 Nov, 2012