How do I water my plant if the pot has no drainage?

One of the most common questions new plant growers pose is how much and how often a plant should be watered. Although most plant varieties have different watering needs, in the end, it all comes down to water drainage.

Watering is intrinsically related to the drainage in a pot or the soil.

When gardeners talk about drainage, they refer to the ability of the soil or the pot to let excess water drain out after watering. Once the soil gets saturated with water, any excess needs to drain out of the pot and off the soil for a plant to stay healthy. When there is an excess of moisture in the soil or the pot, the roots suffocate and eventually rot. Therefore, the plant’s health starts declining until it dies.

Watering Plants in Pots with Drainage

The best way to water plants in pots with drainage is to water the soil thoroughly, always making sure that the excess water drains out of the pot through the drainage holes below. Then, do not water again until the soil feels dry to the touch, at least two or three inches deep. If the pot has a drip tray below, discard the water sitting in the tray to avoid root rot.

Watering Plants in Pots without Drainage

So, what happens if a pot does not have drainage holes? Well, it may sound contradictory, but drainage isn’t always necessary, although it makes caring for our plants easier.

Drainage holes allow excess water to escape. If you add too much water at one time, it seeps out the drainage holes, and you can empty the drip tray so the plant doesn't drown. But if you're careful and don't add too much water at any one time, then the holes aren't necessary.

The best way to water a plant in a pot without drainage is to water it just enough to get the soil moist. The amount of water poured into the soil can’t be excessive. The right amount will depend on the size of the pot and the type of plant. For example, some succulents and cacti have very shallow root systems, so they take water from the upper layers of the soil. That means there is no need to water the soil below the upper half.

Adding Rocks Below the Soil for Drainage

Adding rocks below the soil inside a pot is a bit of an urban myth. Although it sounds logical that rocks should help excess water drain down, the combination of rocks and soil can cause the soil to compact and trap water longer than it should. The rocks can also end up clogging the holes or create air pockets that can provide a perfect habitat for fungus and other bacteria.

Adding rocks will also reduce the amount of growing medium available for the plant’s roots to grow, thereby decreasing the plant’s potential maximum growth size.