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.
Bu hikaye The Gardener dergisinin June 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Gardener dergisinin June 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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