Ceramic & 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. So be sure there is at least one hole for drainage (Larger planters may require two drainage holes). Failure to drill drainage holes can result in the ceramic "checking" which has an appears that the ceramic is defective.

Double potting

Slipping a plastic container inside a slightly larger Case Study Ceramic Planter is called double potting.

When double potting is used, the plants grow in a pot liner. Often this is a plain plastic pot. This allows you to slip the pot liner in or out of the Case Study Ceramic Planter without disturbing the plant roots. Check to be sure that the plants in the pot liner never stand in water  If water accumulates in the bottom of the plastic saucer, remove the inside plastic pot and drain the water from the Case Study Ceramic Planter.

Skip the gravel inside the bottom of individual or pot liners

It is a myth that a layer of gravel (inside the bottom of an individual pot that is not double potted) 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. The water gathers until no air space is left. Once all the available soil air space fills up, then excess water drains into the gravel below. So gravel in the bottom does little to keep soil above it from being saturated by overwatering.