Ceramic and Plant Health Information
Drainage Is Critical to Plant Health
A hole at the bottom of the container is critical if you are planting directly into a Case Study Ceramic Planter.
A drainage hole allows water in the soil to drain freely so adequate air is available for the plant's roots. While various kinds of plants have differing drainage needs, few can tolerate sitting in stagnant water. Healthy roots mean healthier plants. Be sure there is at least one drainage hole (larger planters may require two). Failure to drill drainage holes can result in the ceramic "checking," which may appear as a defect in the ceramic.
Double Potting
Slipping a plastic container inside a slightly larger Case Study Ceramic Planter is called double potting.
When double potting is used, plants grow in a pot liner — often a plain plastic pot. This allows you to slip the liner in or out of the Case Study Ceramic Planter without disturbing the roots. Be sure that plants in the pot liner never stand in water. If water accumulates in the bottom, remove the inner plastic pot and drain the water from the Case Study Ceramic Planter.
Skip the Gravel
It is a myth that a layer of gravel inside the bottom of a pot improves drainage. Instead of draining immediately into the gravel, water "perches" and gathers in the soil just above it until no air space remains. Only once all soil air space is filled does excess water drain into the gravel below. Gravel at the bottom does little to prevent the soil above from becoming saturated by overwatering.