Well, who does not like flowers? Yes, almost everyone has their favorite flower, whether it's a rose, an orchid or a cactus. Each of the flowers requires attention, care and care. Especially flowers in pots. For them, care should be the most thorough, because the conditions of keeping such flowers in nature are different from indoor.
Regardless of which flower you acquire, sooner or later it will need to be transplanted. The process of transplanting indoor plants necessarily includes drainage.
In a simple way, drainage is necessary in order for the roots of plants to breathe and there was no accumulation of water destructive to the roots. As you know, practically in every pot there is a hole at the bottom for the drain of excess water. But this is not enough. Because if the flower is poured - it will still stagnate in the pot with excessive water and the roots will rot. Drainage also avoids this. It will be wet, which will not allow the roots to drastically dry out, but at the same time there will be no accumulation of water.
Selection of drainage
The choice of drainage depends directly on the pot itself and the drainage hole in it, as well as on the flower that will be planted in it.
If the pot is high, then the substrate will dry up on top quickly, but inside it will remain wet. If the pot is low, then the drying of the substrate will be almost uniform.
As practice shows, the presence of a drainage hole in pots is always not enough. Therefore, plant drainage is mandatory.
If viewed from the point of view of the future homeowner's pot, then one must pay attention to the features of the plant. If you want to plant a plant that needs to quickly dry the roots, then it should be planted in small pots and create an additional strong drainage for rapid access of oxygen to the roots. If you plant a plant that requires constant moistening of the roots, then you can take a pot higher, or take for drainage a denser material that will keep the moisture in the required amount.
Types of drainage
Drainage for indoor plants can be from different materials. Basically, it is expanded clay, sand, broken potsherds, gravel, crushed stone, broken brick or polystyrene. But the most important thing in the choice of drainage is chemical inertness, resistance to mold, the influence of water. Also, drainage should let in water. The amount of drainage in the pot is calculated by its height and the size of the drainage hole. It is standard 1 cm with a large enough hole in the pot. In other cases, 2-5 cm or about 1 / 4-1 / 5 of the height of the selected pot. A small layer of earth is piled on top, planted and sprinkled with earth.
Expanded clay
Sold in any flower shop. It is a brown stone with high hygroscopicity. There are large, medium and small fractions. Drainage of house colors usually use medium and fine fractions. Advantages of expanded clay is that it is light, which is very important when used in heavy pots, absorbs excess water well and gives back when necessary.
Broken brick
This is a natural material that is made entirely of clay. Excellent drainage, but infrequently used because of sharp edges, which can damage the roots when used.
Crushed stone and gravel
They have a neutral pH, and do not enter into chemical interactions. Their only drawback is that they are very heavy, which makes it difficult to use them.
Ceramic drainage
It's just the simplest - shards from broken ceramic pots. At the bottom of the pot we lay the shards of medium size, with the convex side facing upwards. Above all, we fill with sand, 0.5-5 cm high, and then plant the plant.
Styrofoam
It does not absorb water, light, mold-free and chemically inert. But we must remember that when using it, the root system tightens it tightly and when the plant is transplanted, the roots of the plant become injured, because it is very difficult to tear out the foam plastic.
Whichever drainage material you choose, remember the above recommendations. After all, properly selected and laid drainage is the guarantee of a healthy plant.