Should You Use Planters With Drainage Holes? The Ultimate Guide (2024)

Most plants require proper drainage to thrive. Though using a planter with drainage holes isn’t the only way to make sure your plant will survive, it is one of the easiest ways to ensure your plant doesn’t perish from overwatering.

Overwatering is typically how most plant owners inadvertently kill their greenery. Any water that pools at the bottom of a planter can allow bacteria and fungus to form and cause root rot, which can be deadly.Though every plant owner should know their individual plant’s care and watering needs, drainage holes in a planter allow any extra water to seep out.

There are very few scenarios where an outdoor planter should be used without drainage holes. Outdoor plantersare outside in the sun, rain, snow, and all weather in between.When they fill up with water from inclement weather, the extra weight and volume can cause them to crack. In colder climates, water freezes, expands, and can break the planter.

Drainage holes—especially for outdoor planters—are key to ensuring your plants don’t get overwatered and that your planter stays intact through the elements.

Thriving plants require proper light, soil, water, and drainage. However, most people don’t want excess water leaking onto their floors or furniture from a planter pot with drainage holes.

If you want indoor plants, it isn’t one hundred percent necessary to have drainage holes in your indoor planters. However, if you want your plants to thrive, proper drainage is key. Here are a few methods to make sure your plants receive adequate moisture without traditional planter drainage holes.

Cache potting, or double potting, is a tried-and-true method to make sure your plant can maintain proper moisture levels without water leaking onto your furniture.

Find a plastic grow pot that has drainage holes and is a bit smaller than your planter. Then, simply plant your foliage or flowers in the grow pot, and place it into your chosen planter. The grow pot will be hidden by the outer planter, and your plant will look like it’s directly planted. If you go this route, be sure to drain any excess water from the outer planter to help prevent root rot.

Self-watering planters and sub-irrigation systems are another method you can use if you don’t want drainage holes in your planters.These options use a water reservoir and drainage system to give your plants optimal growing conditions. Plants draw the water as they need it from the reservoir, which is separated from the plant’s root system. Impressively, some self-watering systems allow your plant to maintain adequate moisture for up to 12 weeks!

If you already have a planter you’d like to use, some self-watering and sub-irrigation systems can be purchased separately.

If double potting or using a saucer isn’t an option, you can directly plant in pots without drainage holes. However, if you choose this option, make sure you carefully monitor how much you water your plant.

To plant in a pot without drainage holes, simply place your plant in a container filled with its preferred blend of potting soil. In order for your plant to thrive, it’s essential to remember these next few tips.

Sealing up drainage holes allows you to modify a plant container into a more appropriate indoor planter. However, the best method to plug drainage holes will depend on the material of your planter.Some popular suggestions include purchasing a rubber stopper, using concrete or a cork sealed with plumber’s putty, or filling the hole with silicone sealant. These are all viable methods to seal planter drainage holes.

Fiberglass planters are a bit of a different story. To seal a fiberglass planter, rough up the edges of the drainage hole with sandpaper. Then, fill it with Duraglas. From there, use a waterproofing seal and paint if necessary.

Depending on the material your plastic planter is made of, it may not be possible to make drainage holes. Plastic that is stiff and brittle can easily crack, and you may break the planter by trying to drill a drainage hole.However, if you have a softer plastic planter, you may be able to successfully drill a drainage hole.

Spur-point drill bits, or dowel bits, are typically recommended for drilling holes in plastic. These types of drill bits are manufactured to make clean, neat holes in materials. The size of your planter will determine how big of a drill bit you’ll need, but a ½ inch spur-point drill bit is a good starting point.

Supplies:Face protection, a drill, a ½-inch spur-point drill bit, a pencil, a piece of scrap wood, and a wet/dry vacuum.

1. Place your planter upright on a flat surface, using a scrap piece of wood underneath to help avoid chipping and keepyour surfaces safe.
2. Use a pencil to mark where you’d like drainage holes to be placed.
3. Place your drill on the marks, and with a slow drill speed, let the drill cut into the planter material. A slow drill speed reduces the chance of the plastic melting from the heat generated by friction.Let the drill press through the planter material and into the scrap wood below. Gently remove the drill, and you should have a neat new drainage hole in your plastic planter!
4. Use the vacuum to clean up any bits and pieces of plastic.

Fiberglass planters are durable, sturdy, and weather-resistant. Though it is possible to drill holes in your fiberglass planters, it’s often much more time-efficient to order fiberglass planters with pre-drilled drainage holes.However, if you’d like to drill your own, here are the supplies you’ll need and the basic steps to follow.

Supplies: Face protection, a drill, a 1-inch or ½-inch spade drill bit, a pencil, a piece of scrap wood, and a wet/dry vacuum.

1. Put the planter upright on the piece of scrap wood. We don’t recommend putting the planter upside down, as it can scratch the planter’s exterior.
2. Use a pencil to mark on the planter’s interior where you’d like your drainage holes placed.
3. Set the drill bit on the pencil marks and slowly start drilling. Let the blade bite into the fiberglass until you’ve reached through to the other side of the planter.
4. Use the vacuum to clear away any fiberglass dust.

Regardless of whether you choose to use a plant pot with or without drainage holes, it’s crucial to be aware of your plant’s maintenance requirements. How often should you water it? What type of potting mix should you use? Will there be too much sun where you’re planning to place it?

If you are dedicated to your plant’s care and ensure it has proper drainage, you’ll be rewarded with lovely, thriving plants, whether your planter has drainage holes or not.