DRAINAGE DO OR DIE
The Gardener|June 2022
We have a saying in our office, “You can plant in just abut anything as long as it has drainage.” The reason why drainage is important is that most plants don’t like their roots to sit in water, and without drainage, water build-up in containers is likely.
DRAINAGE DO OR DIE

Why is drainage important?

Although plants use their roots to take in water, too much water will lead to root rot, which kills offthe roots and eventually the plant. Surplus water also results in a lack of air flow around the roots, preventing them from absorbing oxygen, which is also imperative for plants to survive.

The importance of proper potting medium

The type of potting soil used in your container plays the most important role in proper drainage. Some mediums retain more water than others, so it’s important to understand how it works and what will work best for your plants.

The science bit

Without being too technical, when you water a pot plant from above, the water drains through the soil and out the bottom of the pot through drainage holes, thanks to gravity. A good potting medium will include water-retaining materials so that some water is held in place for use by the plant’s roots at a later stage. If your potting soil contains very fine particles and a small proportion of air spaces, the water can ‘wick’ upwards by what is called capillary action. When this upward force is greater than the downward gravity, it creates a ‘perched water table’ at the bottom of the pot that doesn’t drain out. The water sits there and causes the pot to become waterlogged – a death sentence for your precious plant.

This story is from the June 2022 edition of The Gardener.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the June 2022 edition of The Gardener.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE GARDENERView All
FIRE AND Feathers!
The Gardener

FIRE AND Feathers!

On a dreary winter's day, a screen of fiery and feathery leaves puts up a fight against dullness!

time-read
2 mins  |
July/August 2024
GET THE ladies in!
The Gardener

GET THE ladies in!

At this time of year, early-flowering shrubs vie with each other to get the most attention. We say: Trust those with female names for frills and butterflies. They go the extra mile to flower their hearts out.

time-read
1 min  |
July/August 2024
Vegetable Soups and dumplings
The Gardener

Vegetable Soups and dumplings

Vegetables make the most delicious soups and classic combinations are always a winner.

time-read
4 mins  |
July/August 2024
Yummy sweet potatoes for your good health
The Gardener

Yummy sweet potatoes for your good health

Boiled, baked or braaied, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are a delicious and healthy winter comfort food. Just a dollop of butter, a little seasoning and you are good to go.

time-read
3 mins  |
July/August 2024
Pretty and functional
The Gardener

Pretty and functional

If cooking is your main thing, you would probably be more interested in the culinary value of the three herbs and some of their varieties we are describing.

time-read
5 mins  |
July/August 2024
Dried Seedheads & Pods
The Gardener

Dried Seedheads & Pods

Autumn and winter are the best times to see what flowers produce the best seedheads that can be left on the plants to feed the birds and bugs and for harvesting for dried arrangements.

time-read
4 mins  |
July/August 2024
SO MANY FACES and so many choices...
The Gardener

SO MANY FACES and so many choices...

Whoever associated a Cotyledon orbiculata (pig's ear) with the ear of a pig obviously did not know about all the varieties and cultivars this species in the genus Cotyledon has.

time-read
3 mins  |
July/August 2024
COLOURFUL Cold Weather WINNERS!
The Gardener

COLOURFUL Cold Weather WINNERS!

If it comes to a vote, these dependable shrubs will be the top candidates for prime performance in winter and in other seasons...

time-read
5 mins  |
July/August 2024
What makes a garden sustainable?
The Gardener

What makes a garden sustainable?

It is interesting to note that the United Nations defines sustainable development as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

time-read
4 mins  |
July/August 2024
Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation
The Gardener

Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation

Nestled within Prince Albert's rustic embrace lies a gem that is a testament to the transformative power of human vision and nature's bounty.

time-read
4 mins  |
July/August 2024