How many drainage holes in planters

Start the drill slowly and put gentle pressure on it. This will help it drill a hole in the material. Once it starts to cut a hole slowly move the drill bit so it is straight over the planter. You should stop after a little bit has been drilled. Then pour some water on the drill bit and hole to cool them off. And then you can start drilling again. Keep doing this till a complete hole has been drilled. The process will be the same as other materials. Keep the fiberglass planter on a raised surface so it remains off the ground.

You can keep a tarp or plastic sheet at the bottom to collect dust and debris. Mark the drill locations on the inside of the planter using a pencil or marker. Use one hand to hold the planter stead as you place the drill on the marked position. Place the drill bit right on top of the marked position and start the drill slowly. Put a little pressure so the drill bit starts cutting through the fiberglass. This helps clear the area as well as cool off the drill bit and prevent overheating.

Keep using the drill at the location till a clean hole has been drilled through the fiberglass material. But it can be tough to drill the hole if the metal sheet is thick. You can use a diamond drill bit for drilling holes in a metal pot as well. The process is similar to what you followed for a terracotta pot.

Make sure there are no inflammable materials around as sparks could be created when drilling through metal. Skip to content. How many drainage holes in a planter? Diameter of pot inches No. How do you cover the planter drainage holes? What precautions to take before making drainage holes?

How to make drainage holes in plastic pots? This is fine if you hit it correctly the first time, but having to empty the container to drill more holes would be a pain. Placing a layer of gravel or broken pottery pieces on the bottom of the container, below the soil, can help stop the flow of soil through larger holes.

If you're drilling ceramic, the internet experts suggest using masonry bits, avoid putting too much pressure on the drill and bit to avoid cracking the pot , and having water available to cool the ceramic and wash away the grit as you drill. Ask Extension. Your potting soil at the bottom may start drying and eventually become too tight or dried up. Too much drainage can also cause some branches or stems to die back and decolonize the soil as the roots could not absorb enough water before the water quickly drained out of the pot completely.

See our detailed article on how long should soil stay wet after watering. Drainage holes are a way for water to go through the soil and essentially escape through the bottom. Drainage holes help your soil dry out faster. Root rot is the number one problem that many beginner succulent growers have. If there are no drainage holes in your planters they will become overwatered and it can create a problem for your plant roots.

The exchange of Oxygen and carbon dioxide is only possible in the presence of drainage holes because the air pockets get closed by excess water if there are no holes. Drainage holes can be created by using a drill, hammer, or a large nail. But the question is what should be the size of the holes for good drainage. Usually, a hole having a diameter of 1 inch is good enough to start. How many holes should be present in one pot mainly depends on the size of the container you are using.

If the pot size is bigger it will definitely need more drainage holes. Larger pots can produce larger plants but at a cost. See why in our article explaining why. Basically, 5 holes per square foot are enough.

If you are concerned about the soil loss from the drainage holes then you can solve this issue by adding a layer of newspaper in the bottom of the pot.

In addition to the newspaper, laying down a layer of gravel at the bottom of your plant pot can help stop the flow of soil through larger holes. Remember, too many drainage holes, can be a bad thing because there will be too much drainage out of the pot. You can drill three to four to eight, 1-inch holes on the side of your plant pots.

Ideally, placing three holes is enough for adequate drainage. See our article on removing excess water from a plant saucer. With holes on the sides of plant pots, a sufficient amount of water soaks into the soil while the rest runs out from the holes.