Why You Should Not Add Gravels to Pots: Busting an Old Myth
12.06.2023 - 10:13
/ balconygardenweb.com
Every time you prepare a pot for planting, you add a layer of gravel in the bottom for drainage! But is it essential or not required at all? Why You Should Not Add Gravels to Pots? Or should you? Let’s find out!
Adding a layer of gravel, stones, or pot shards to the bottom of the container is a common practice that most gardeners (old or new or even experts) do. But do you really need to do this? We say NO!
To support our claim, we refer to this educative article on Illinois University, which states –
It is a myth that a layer of gravel (inside the bottom of an individual pot) beneath the soil improves container drainage. Instead of extra water draining immediately into the gravel, the water ‘perches’ or gathers in the soil just above the gravel.
T he water gathers until no air space is left. Once all the available soil air space fills up, the excess water drains into the gravel below. So gravel in the bottom does little to keep soil above it from being saturated by overwatering.
If you are confused if gravel help with drainage, then the answer is No. Soil scientist Kevin Handreck, the author of Gardening DownUnder and Good Gardens with Less Water, states that crocking increases the risk of damaging your plants by overwatering. In fact, adding a layer of gravel at the bottom of the pot will impair it.
Associate Professor Linda Chalker-Scott, an urban horticulturist at Washington State University, calls it a myth that refuses to die. She says regardless of solid scientific evidence to the contrary in her report! Nearly every book or website on container gardening recommends placing coarse material at the bottom of containers for drainage.
We know that plants need good drainage so that their roots can receive adequate oxygen,