I'm growing a plant in a pot but it won't drain...is this a problem?

I live in a place that's very cold in the winter, but I want to grow some plants indoors.


I planted the seeds in a pot about 10 inches tall filled with potting soil.


I put some gravel in the bottom of the pot because I heard that helps with the drainage.


I have the pot in a dish to catch any drainage.


But the problem is, there is no drainage! I have been watering my plant, but none of the water seeps through and drains. It all just sits there in the soil, or get evaporated, or whatever.





Is this ok? I wasn't sure if the lack of drainage is a problem. I dont want the soil to get too inundated or moldy or anything.





Thanks

I'm growing a plant in a pot but it won't drain...is this a problem?
yes it's a problem...Roots need oxygen for respiration like the rest of the plant. You shouldn't have a layer of gravel in the bottom, only a rock or two to cover the hole so water can escape. If you leave a layer of gravel in the bottom, it causes a 'water table' effect and the roots can drown. It's best to water your houseplants until the water is draining out of the holes in the pot and not water again until the water is absorbed by the plant or evaporates. Then let the soil stay dry for a week or two so there can be respiration. If the leaves start to wilt, that is a good indication that it is time to water. In the wintertime, you want the plant to be somewhat dormant on top - but the roots will continue to grow. Don't cut your plant or fertilize as this will encourage growth. You want your plant to store its energy until spring when it can get enough light to grow efficiently.
Reply:With gravel at the bottom, and no water coming out of it, I suspect the soil is not completely wet. I suggest watering it until water DOES come out of the bottom; make sure it is sitting somewhere (maybe in the sink) so that when the water drains out, it doesn't go everywhere, and so that it doesn't sit IN water for any length of time.
Reply:You may solve the problem of excess watering if you do not pour water, but mist the plants (seeds) daily. Good luck.
Reply:You are right about drainage being important. You don't say what kind of a plant you have. Some need more water than others. Is there really no draiage hole or is it compacted woil. How much water do you put in? If there is no drainage hole then by all means don't water too much. The good thing about houseplants is that they only get what water you give them. If it is a succulent plant or a cactus, I would water about once a month in the winter, more in summer if it looks dry after a few days.Other plants I would water twice a month in the winter and you might have to increase the water when the weather is warm.
Reply:Yeah, the soil can get fuzzy stuff growing on it if it is wet a lot. Also, if it doesn't drain the water, the plant's roots will rot and the plant will die or the seeds will rot too. Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the pot (no offense to your intelligence) or maybe the gravel is blocking the holes. I had that happen before. Did you pack the soil? If you did, then you have to loosen it up. If the soil is loose, the water should be able to get to the bottom of the pot well enough. Sometimes the soil is too compacted to drain properly and it will take some time for the water to go to the bottom. Did you follow the directions on the seed packet, you might have planted them too deep. Also, is the plant able to grow in the winter? Some seed plants are only good to grow when it's warm outside (unless it's really warm in your house). Hope this helps. :)





By the way, you don't really need to plant seeds in a ten inch pot. Planting them in small containers first, and then after they grow larger, you can transplant them into larger pots. If you put a plant into a pot that it is too large, the plant part won't grow as fast because it is using all the nutrients it is getting to make a root system rather than the green plant part.





I suggest putting the seeds into a smaller pot first to start them growing then putting them into larger pots after the grow some.
Reply:TRY , INSTEAD OF WATERING FROM THE TOP JUST SET THE POT IN SOME WATER AND LET THE PLANT GET MOISTURE THRU THE HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE POT. DONT SWAMP IT BUT SET THE POT IN A LITTLE WATER AT FIRST. THE GRAVEL IS A GOOD IDEA. IF YOU DONT SEE SPROUTS SOON MAYBE YOUR SEEDS ARE NO GOOD. GET SOME OTHER SEEDS MAYBE. KEEP THINGS WARM
Reply:Yes, that is absolutely a problem. Maybe you are not watering enough to have it drain? Maybe the soil you used is holding too much water? If it has not drained at all and you are watering thoroughly, I would un-pot it and change the soil if at all possible. Also, seeds might not necessarily sprout indoors unless under grow lights.





Good luck.
Reply:As long as you have a hole in the bottom of the pot, that's great.


Fill your sink with a few inches of water, set the potted plant in the sink. Wait 10-15 minutes and lift the pot out of the water and


the excess water should drain. Now if this does not happen you do not have a draining pot.


You'll need to transplant your plant into a pot with a hole in the bottom and use your dish as a tray.





Never let your pot sit in the water in the dish.
Reply:If its an unvarnished/unpainted clay pot then the clay may soak up some of the water. It's possible you may have put too much gravel in the pot and cut off the drainage routes. Try poking a long narrow object, like a nail, through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. That can open up a drainage pathway.
Reply:If there is a hole in the bottom of the pot, try setting tooth picks between the pot and the dish. If the dish is blocking the hole, this will allow water to pass between the bottom of the pot and the dish.





Excess water must drain or you run the risk of rotting the roots or picking up disease.
Reply:i don't see any problem


let let grow


let it grow let grow
Reply:It should do fine as long as you do not over water
Reply:Place a plate or something underneath the plant and drill holes in bottom of pot.. One oto 3 holes should be enough.