do pots have to have drain holes

daloudpack

Well-Known Member
so this is my first soil gro and im using a variety of different pots, none of which have drain holes. Do u HAVE to have drain holes or is this more of a safety precaution to prevent problems.... i have been in pot for over 2 weeks and havent had any problems yet and scared transplanting is just gonna put my plants in stress for no reason.. only other option is to drill holes in my pots with plants in them and that seems like a horrible idea...
 

roorsmoker

Well-Known Member
I would drill the holes if your pot is bigger than 2 gallons and if you plan to flower in those pots. If you plan on transplanting before flowering, just wait until then. A few weeks without drainage won't kill them. I would let your root ball fill out that pot before transplanting unless it's huge.

However....: Without drain holes, you can essentially never flush. Yes you can feed it straight water, but sediments and precipitates form from organic and inorganic nutrients. Chemical reactions in your root zone are taking place constantly, leaving behind salts. These salts need to exit the pot in some fashion; ie the bottom of the pot.

That being said, aeration is another thing you are missing out on due to no drain holes.

Don't be afraid to transplant unless you are in the middle of flower. If you are in the middle of flower, you should drill holes. You really won't hurt the roots if your pot is bigger than 3 gallons. Just don't drill too deep or too wide (she-said joke here). Many small holes is the key in the side AND bottom for maximum oxygen as well as drainage.

Your plant probably won't die if you don't poke drain holes, but the quality and yield will be worth the drain holes if you use them.

Another option is to completely remove the bottom carefully from the pot and place it into a larger pot. Ruins your old pot though, and still may damage root ball as much as transplanting.
 

hyroot

Well-Known Member
If you like root rott, black stem rot and nasty pathogens that will kill your plant then don't make drainage holes.
 

daloudpack

Well-Known Member
my main pot i wont be transplant from is about 5 gallons has a rubber mesh net at the bottom there is a little room between the pot and soil , plant is 4 days into flower... the 2 of them are 2/3 gallons that i will be letting veg for a while then putting in 5,s and then i have a couple gallon smart pots that already have holes luckily.... should i drill holes into my 5 gallon pot that is in flower or not.....
 

roorsmoker

Well-Known Member
3/8 should be plenty big. You don't want it so big your grow media is falling out. Are you sure the "mesh" you're talking about doesn't allow for drainage already? Smart pots are always good.
 

daloudpack

Well-Known Member
imma go head and give it some holes tommorow when my light kicks on since im not sure if the mesh is just to prevent soil from blocking the drain holes and i dont believe theres any drain holes in it... its getting its 12 drk right now ill see at 7:30....also when i transplant my others into 5 gallon buckets should i put down a layer of hydroton pellets (thats what i have laying around) before the soil ?
 

daloudpack

Well-Known Member
drilled my holes this morning heres what i got so far 6 days in flower 3 plants 6 days in flower from front to back , buzz light gear 3 wk veg , atomic bomb 2 week veg , critical x cheese candy 1 week veg , nothing but fertilome ultimate soil and a dose of super thrive for transplant, im gonna give some cal mag and ff big bloom next feeding although i dont think it needs it, i vegged under 24hr light , buzz is showing a couple tiny preflowers with pistols and one or two that are really tiny with nothing yet however i cant get any good pictures yet they are to tiny and my phone cam isnt great with zoom ... im prayinsg she dont herm.... nothing on atomic or critical yet
 

anzohaze

Well-Known Member
Stop lying to this man if you have no holes pots then just fill with water to the top and the water will evaporate from pot
 

daloudpack

Well-Known Member
1 1/2 weeks in veg i have blueberry og , purple paralysis , and black destroyer blue berry og is first , shes really bushy and im having a blast trying to get the top to the top lol , 2nd black destroyer , 3rd purple paralysis these i gave 1/4 teaspoon of 20/20/20 which is around 8/8/8 im hoping no burn yet lol also gave cal/mag to one each of pp and bd to see how it went 20150915_112405.jpg 20150915_112422.jpg 20150915_112443.jpg 20150915_112349.jpg 20150915_112336.jpg
 

roorsmoker

Well-Known Member
1 1/2 weeks in veg i have blueberry og , purple paralysis , and black destroyer blue berry og is first , shes really bushy and im having a blast trying to get the top to the top lol , 2nd black destroyer , 3rd purple paralysis these i gave 1/4 teaspoon of 20/20/20 which is around 8/8/8 im hoping no burn yet lol also gave cal/mag to one each of pp and bd to see how it went View attachment 3500532 View attachment 3500535 View attachment 3500536 View attachment 3500537 View attachment 3500538
Great looking girls!!! Keep up the good work! Glad you could get those holes drilled. Happy growing. We are always here to assist.

Yes, hydroton is great to use just a small layer at the bottom of your plant. Stones can work for this too. Gravel should be fine, but I've never used it so I'm not sure if it can alter your pH. I'd just stick with the hydroton. I've personally lined a half inch or so at the bottom of my pots before for outdoor and it worked great. It helps keep dirt from clogging those drain holes.
 
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