In general, it’s not necessary to put rocks in the bottom of plant pots.
One rock to cover the drainage hole is enough – just enough so that the soil doesn’t leach out of the bottom but water can flow freely out of the pot.
Putting rocks in plant pots doesn’t aid drainage or improve air circulation.
I’m softened my stance on this over the years. It’s not wrong to put gravel in the bottom of pots, and plenty of people do it.
However, adding gravel instead of drainage holes will do NOTHING to increase drainage and you're WAY more likely to get root rot unless you're very careful about watering veeeeery slowly and giving the exact right amount of water.
I do NOT have time for that.
There are, however, sometimes instances when putting rocks in the bottom of your plant pot are useful.
Instances when rocks in plant pots can be useful
1. When the pot is too big.
Rocks are cheap (free if you take them from the garden/drive), especially in comparison to the potting mix.
It makes sense to fill the pot to a certain level with rocks, just to save a bit of cash.
Do bear in mind that rocks are far heavier than soil, so prepare to have to leave your plant where you potted it if you find it’s too heavy to carry.
I sometimes use leca, because it retains water but dries out quickly and allows for great airflow.
This is especially useful when you’re potting up propagations, and you don’t have a small enough pot.
2. When your pot doesn’t have drainage holes
One thing you’ll know about me if you’ve spent much time in these parts is that I’m reeeeally passionate about drainage holes.
Just read this post if you don’t believe me.
Yup, I really wrote a 1,500-word article presenting my case about pots with holes.
I promise it’s not as dull as you’d think.
If you have no option other than to plant a plant in a pot without holes, you could put a layer of gravel on the bottom to catch any excess water and stop it from being reabsorbed by the roots of the plant.
You need to wait until any water is gone before rewatering, which is why leca is a better option than gravel – it can absorb the water and the soil can use it.
You’re still better off putting the plant in a nursery pot though – it’s just easier.
3. When you live somewhere windy OR your plant tends to fall over
Genius tip from the comments here. It doesn’t matter if you put the rocks at the bottom of the pot or on top of the soil, the principle is the same: a heavy pot is less likely to blow over/away.
As long as you have drainage holes in the pot, the water won’t collect in the bottom.
This is especially useful if you put your houseplants outside in summer.
Doesn’t putting rocks in plant pots aid drainage?
Nope.
As I already mentioned, you just need one rock, to keep the potting medium in the pot.
The most important thing is that when we water our plants, the water can drain away. Not into the bottom of the pot, where it’ll go stagnant, and will rise over time the more you water. Out of the pot.
If you worry about wasting water, you can water over a pot:
Putting gravel in the bottom of a plant pot doesn't make the water drain away more quickly, it instead creates a perched water table.
What is a perched water table?
When you water a plant, there’s the saturated zone of the soil, and the unsaturated zone.
The saturated zone is at the bottom and the unsaturated zone is at the top because gravity causes the water to head down through the soil.
Everyone still with me?
Here’s a diagram:
If you’re still confused, I have a whole article about perched water tables here.
The myth re. gravel and drainage came about because it was assumed that gravity would pull the water through the saturated zone and into the gravel, away from the roots of the plant.
As it turns out, that’s not quite how it works.
The forces that hold the water into the soil are stronger than gravity, so the soil holds onto the water - imagine laying a sponge full of water on some gravel. The gravel won't soak up the water - the sponge is holding onto it too tightly (source).
By adding a layer of gravel, all we’ve done is shifted the saturated zone closer to the roots of the plant.
If we water a lot, the gravel area will fill up with water and the saturated zone will turn to mud. ven if this doesn’t happen on the first watering, over time the layer of watr in the bottom will build up.
Soil that stays saturated for too long will cause root rot.
But don’t the rocks in the pot allow for better air circulation?
Again, no.
The water in the saturated zone is filling every air pocket with water, so the air can’t circulate from the bottom up.
If you’re worried about air circulation, then stab your soil a few times with something thin and pointy (chopstick, moisture probe). Should the soil be really compacted, your best option might be to repot the plant entirely.
You could also add soil amendments to make your soil chunkier – that will add drainage.
I have an article about the various things you can add to your soil to increase drainage here.
If there are no rocks in the bottom of my pot, how do I stop the soil from washing away?
You could line the bottom of the pot with some kitchen towel, newspaper, or even a bit of coffee filter paper. That’ll be porous enough to allow the water to drain away (or soak through, if you’re bottom watering).
To be honest, small layer of gravel here is fine, but as well as drainage holes, not instead of.
How do I increase drainage in soil?
We’ve already established that putting a layer of gravel in your pot won’t help the water drain quicker – it’ll hinder it in fact.
It’s all about the potting mix. I have a whole post on potting mix here.
You can absolutely make do with regular house plant potting mix, but always add perlite and orchid bark for more drainage. Perlite absorbs water, so the mix dries out quickly, but so not so quickly that you have to water your plants every day.
I have a Monstera-specific article on increasing drainage here, but it’s applicable to loads of houseplant species.
Add builders sand if you’re making succulent mix.
As long as you’re allowing your plants to dry out completely before watering them again, they’ll be fine. How completely they dry out depends on the plant, which is why I’m so in love with moisture meters.
I’ve already put rocks in my pots, should I repot?
Once upon a time I would have been like ‘YES. IMMEDIATELY’.
But now I look at it on more of a plant by plant basis.
Is your plant healthy? Does it get plenty of light? Is it growing well?
If the answer to all those questions is yes, then I would leave it be.
Plant vary a LOT even within the same species, and some are more resilient than others.
Also, LOADS of people keep their plants in pots with gravel at the bottom instead of holes with zero repercussions. It’s not impossible, I just think it’s more difficult for beginners.
Final thoughts on rocks in pots
I think I’ve made my stance here pretty clear, no?
- Don’t put rocks in your pot. Not only does it not aid in drainage, but it can also accelerate root rot.
- If you have a big pot you’re allowed a couple of rocks to cover the drainage hole so that don’t lose half the soil when you water
- But you can use kitchen roll or similar if you have a tiny pot (say, for one of those teeny tiny cacti)
And that’s it. Happy planting!
Any chance you know anything about colcasia black magic?! I bought one recently from a garden centre and it was soaking, left it a few days and repotted it and gave it a good soaking as I read they like boggy conditions, but everything I read online is so conflicting! And now it’s droopy so I think it’s too moist ♀️
I have never understood why people put rocks in their planters. Now I know why. Because
A. Their grandmother did it.
B. The term “cheaper than dirt” may apply to a city-dweller.
C. They failed Physics AND Biology
I’ve never had one, but apparently they can be grown in standing water so I don’t think the moisture is the issue.
How’s your light? They really love full sun, so put it in the brightest spot you have!
Never underestimate the power of A)!
Ugh! I just repotted my night blooming Jessamine and am alarmed at the rocks issue. Yes I stupidly put rocks in the bottom so this weekend I guess I’d better pull them out and repot it. This is my favorite plant and I had to order it from Texas (I am in S Dakota) so I am nearly paranoid about it not just surviving but thriving. Wish I’d read your article yesterday.
Oh no! Yeah, take them out when you can, but don’t panic too much. As long as you’re careful not to overwater and get them out before the roots wrap around them it’ll be fine.
I love this post! I’m a die hard believer in drain holes as well! One question tho… why suggest one rock to block the drainage hole? Aren’t you back to square one with no drainage then? I usually use the paper towel or coffee filter.
The water will still drain – just a bit more slowly. If it doesn’t you can usually poke your finger through the hole and move the rock up a bit. V professional.
I usually use a bit of broken pot so there’s a sliver of room for the water to drain out – it’s just to keep the soil in. I do sometimes use paper towel though – whatever’s available!
Lately I’ve been planting all my pots with a bottom layer of those clay pebbles that are used in hydroponics. Especially for the planters with no drainage hole but even for those with one. They’re lighter weight than rocks, and I thought they would help with moisture management. But now I am wondering if I should stop using them…
They’re definitely preferable to rocks because they absorb water, but I don’t think they’ll be a good enough replacement for a drainage hole. I would use a nursery pot as a liner for any pots without holes or even convert to 100% Leca.
Ummm I have to disagree with this. When you water a decent sized plant with a drainage hole and a saucer, you’ll notice that afterwards some of that excess water will drain through into the saucer (the soil never absorbs 100% unless you’re really sparse with your watering). As long as you’ve not over-watered, it will be a couple of mm or so. If you have a pot with no drainage holes, this water that has gone right through will sit in the bottom of the pot instead. If it’s sitting in soil, which as you say acts like a sponge, the soil above will gradually pull the excess that can’t be completely absorbed upwards towards the roots. However, if that excess water is in amongst the gravel, it won’t be soaked up in the same way.
You still have your saturated and unsaturated zones, but with the ability for the greatest excess of water to be held away from the sponge-like soil. It’s dependent on the depth of the pot, but you’d have to put a lot of grit/pebbles in to create a perched water table. So to my mind 10% or so of pebbles/grit at the bottom of the pot still has its use. Unless you’re so precise with your watering in terms of flow speed and quantity. Few people are.
I get what you’re saying, but the issue comes when you’ve watered multiple times – you’ve no idea where the water level is inside the pot. You say ‘as long as you’ve not overwatered’ but if you’re new to the hobby you may not know how easy it is to overwater. Sure, the first couple of times you water the water level won’t reach the soil, but what if you water so often that the reservoir at the bottom fills up and starts soaking the soil?
If the pot has holes in it, then there’s no issue, but a lot of people think that adding rocks negates the need for a drainage hole, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can end badly.
I’m assuming you’re trying to be cute and funny, but you’re writing actually reads to me as a bit condescending. I’m sure you could soften up your message a bit and still relay your information without subtle insinuations.
These comments are so hard to reply to without seeming super snarky or defensive.
I promise, I’m only trying to be be funny, not cute (or condescending). I’m also not trying to insinuate anything, other than…that you don’t need to put rocks in the bottom of plant pots.
Again, not trying to be snarky.
This is my writing style. It doesn’t suit everyone, but it’s mine. If I try to adapt my style, it becomes very robotic, and I don’t like it.
What about a hort. charcoal layer in a glass non-draining container? I have heard this is the only thing that should be added to the bottom of a container.
You can add it, but you don’t need to. It’s a great way to repel mould and other impurities.
What about creating a drainage layer with sticks and fallen branches?
You could, but it’s not necessary and I’d worry about attracting fungus gnats as the wood rotted.
One good reason to put rocks in pots!
I live in Florida where we get some crazy weather, especially during hurricane season. We put rocks in lightweight pots (especially plastic) to weigh them down so they don’t tip over in windy situations or blow away in stronger winds. HOWEVER, you need a big enough pot to do all the things recommended in this great article to be sure your plant thrives.
Lol I never even considered this BUT it makes me wonder if this is where the whole putting rocks in plants thing originated from. Putting rocks on top of the soil would be a good compromise, plus it would help keep the soil from blowing away!
Putting rocks in the bottom of the plant pots is a debate. Putting rocks is good when the pool is too big. And it does not aid drainage.
Definitely. Someone also made the great point that they can help keep pots upright in windy weather too! They’re just not an alternative to a drainage hole.
I put gravel in every one of my pots,plants do well. I have 50+ plants inside.
It’s not a case of ‘if you put gravel in pots the plant WILL die’, but it’s an unnecessary step that creates a perched water table especially there’s no drainage hole). If it works for you, great.