Plant pots without holes

Expanded clay as an alternative drainage

What is expanded clay?

Expanded clay(€ 16.35 at Amazon *) consists of low-lime clay, mix organic material with the manufacturer. During production, the useful bucket filling goes through the following processes:

• Crushing
• cleaning
• Homogenization
• Heat to 1200 ° C in a rotating oven

The end result is red-brown, puffed-up globules that are one hundred percent sterile and contain only mineral substances. This results in the following advantages:

• no chemical ingredients
• biologically neutral
• optimal drainage for planters
• resistant to fungi and pests
• durable
• air and water permeable

How do you use expanded clay?

Always fill expanded clay as the bottom layer in your planter. On top of that you layer the Potting soil. You should adjust the height of the expanded clay layer to the volume of your bucket. The following values ​​apply for this:

• Small planters and Window boxes:(€ 7.99 at Amazon *) about 1 cm
• medium-sized planters: 5 to 12 cm
• tall, slim planter: a layer of gravel (alternatively an insert) under the expanded clay to increase stability, otherwise also 5 to 12 cm

How does expanded clay prevent waterlogging?

With constant watering, conventional potting soil condenses over time, so that the water can no longer drain away. Expanded clay, however soaks up the water, does not condense due to the airy structure with numerous cavities.

Planter without a drainage hole

However, expanded clay cannot always be used as drainage. Whether the alternative is suitable depends on the location.

Indoor planters

Here, expanded clay is ideally suited as drainage, since models for indoor use are mostly intentional no drain hole own. So you don't need a coaster, you can place the bucket directly on the windowsill.

Plant pots outdoors

Outdoor planters are tough on some days Rainfall exposed. Heavy rain cannot catch even expanded clay. These models require an additional hole.