Yes, you can plant succulents in containers without drainage, but you will need to be careful in determining whether the plant has been watered too much. Overwatering can happen easily, so be sure you know what you are doing.
You have two primary options: you can water the succulent normally and tip the pot or planter to remove the excess water. You could also use the double potting method by placing the plant in a smaller pot, then placing that pot inside a larger pot without any drainage holes.
Why does a succulent’s pot need drainage holes?
A succulent pot needs drainage holes because the plants’ roots need air as much as they need water. When a plant is being overwatered, the roots drown and die. They then develop root rot and are susceptible to a host of fungal problems. The root rot will spread to the stem, branches, and leaves until the plant dies.
Succulent roots need time to dry in between watering because the roots also need air. That is why succulent soil mixes often need perlite or sand since to make the soil more airy.
How can I plant succulents in containers without holes?
Choose the right pot size.
Succulents do not like being planted in a pot that is too big for them– a bigger pot means more soil, and more soil means more water retained. They also do not like being planted in a pot that is too small because their roots will become restricted and their growth may become stunted.
Succulents prefer being planted in a pot that is large enough to give the roots space to grow. Plant them in pots that gradually grow bigger in size as the plant grows.
Place a layer of rocks.
If you place a layer of pumice, stones, pebbles, or rocks in the bottom of the pot, this may be enough to create a layer for drainage. This way, even if your pot does not have holes, the roots are still kept away from the excess water because the roots are not sitting in the wet soil for too long.
The bigger the pot, the larger the rocks and stones you will need. Adding pebbles and pumice to the succulent soil mix will create more space between the soil, allowing the water to drain even quicker.
Use activated charcoal.
You can also use activated charcoal as a natural antibacterial and antifungal component. Activated charcoal also absorbs excess water. You can place the charcoal at the very bottom or on top of the rock layer. This method is optional, but it can definitely help with the drainage. It will work better for larger pots than smaller pots.
How do I water succulents that are in a pot that does not have drainage holes?
The key to making a container with no drainage holes work is to have precise watering techniques. Keep in mind that when the excess water cannot drain out, you have to go easy on the watering. Make sure you touch and inspect the soil first before watering.
Use a syringe, spray bottle, or squeeze bottle.
Using these precise containers will help you control the amount of water that gets into the succulent containers. If you are using a spray bottle, spray the soil around the plant and not the leaves. Plants absorb water through their roots.
Know how often to water your plants.
Knowing how often you need to water your plants will depend on the climate where you live, on whether it is the succulent’s growing or dormant season, and on the size of the container.
Succulents will need more frequent watering during the summer and much less in the rainy season or winter. Pay close attention to your plants. Those that normally get watered every seven to ten days may only need to be watered every ten to fourteen days in the colder months.
If the climate where you live is dry and gets little rain, you need to water the succulents more frequently. But if the place where you live is very humid, you might have to water the plants much less.
If you are a beginner plant owner and have little experience with succulents, water your plants less than what is ideal and just adjust as you see fit. Eventually, you will find the right balance for each plant. You will know that your plant is underwatered if the leaves start to brown and curl at the tips. Touch the soil around the roots. If it is dry, you may need to water.
Know how much water you need.
In the beginning, it can be tricky trying to figure out how much water to pour into the pot, especially in one that does not have any drainage holes. When you have enough, excess water should not pool in the bottom. If there is excess water, pour it out or absorb it with paper towels.
Different soil types also absorb different amounts of water. A good way to start is to pour in water that amounts to half of the amount of soil. If the pot holds two cups of soil, pour in one cup of water.
Drain any excess water.
If you think that you put too much water in the plant’s soil, you can tip the container to one side to pour out the excess water. Make sure you hold the plant and soil in place so that nothing falls out. You can also use paper towels or a dry cloth towel to dab and absorb the excess water.
Remove the pot from under the rain.
In case of rain, secure the pots with no holes first and take them into a place with a roof. It is best if you do this before the rain starts to pour. If you forget to bring the plants in, you can remedy this by pouring as much excess water out of the pots as you can.
Conclusion
It is not advisable, but it is definitely possible to keep a succulent alive in a container that does not have drainage holes. Drainage holes are put in pots to make sure that any excess water is able to drain from the soil, thus saving the plant’s roots from root rot and fungal problems.
If you prefer pots with no drainage, then you need to be precise when watering your plants since they will be more sensitive to overwatering.
You can always tip the pot to the side to drain the excess water, or use paper towels to absorb the excess water in the soil. Make sure you take plants in non-draining pots indoors when it is about to rain.
Image: istockphoto.com / evgenyb