It does not matter whether you are growing plants commercially or as a hobby; you need to ensure that you have the optimal environment for those plants to thrive. This makes sure that they grow healthy and strong, as well as bloom or take on vibrant colours.
Indeed, it is easy to overlook certain aspects when growing plants. For example, everyone knows that you have to water most on a regular basis. In addition, the health and the type of soil are going to be important. But have you put a lot of thought into the plant pots you are using?
Plant pots are an important factor you have to think about when you are growing almost every type of flower or plant. This includes the size and making sure you repot them on a regular basis to allow for more growth. In particular, something you have to pay attention to is drainage holes. Let’s take a look at this topic in more detail.
Are Drainage Holes Necessary?
Let’s start with the basics. Plants have roots and something to know about them is that they do not like to sit in water. Yes, every plant is going to need water to survive. But, when roots are constantly in water, they effectively drown. Therefore, think about a plant pot that does not have drainage holes. Excess water just sits there and gathers at the bottom of the pot. Eventually, this is going to affect the plant and its health.
A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that this is not going to be a problem. For example, growers may see that the top of the soil is dry. But, this does not mean that the soil is not wet at the bottom of the pot. Again, realise that this can lead to root rot and kill what you are growing.
Therefore, most of the time, drainage holes are going to be necessary to have in plant pots. This allows any water that is not needed by the plant to drain away. The soil does not get waterlogged and you can maintain a healthy plant. Check out our products at Dejex for wholesale plant pots with drainage holes. This can protect your plants from root rot and ensure that this is something you do not have to worry about. This is especially true in the wetter months of the year if your plants are outside.
What are the Signs of Root Rot?
If you have been using plant pots that do not have any holes at the bottom, you might be worried about root rot. Well, there are going to be some tell-tale signs that your plants are suffering from it.
First of all, your plant can develop wilted leaves. Depending on the plant, some might look yellow. Often, these can be signs that plants are not getting enough water or nutrients from the soil. But, if you know it is getting both of these, it is likely that it has developed root rot.
Something else you can do to see if they have root rot is to lift them out of the pot. The soil might be very damp at the bottom and there could even be water present. In addition, it is likely that the roots will appear slimy and even black in colour. Generally, it is not going to look healthy and what you would expect.
Can Plants Recover from Root Rot?
Do your plants have signs of root rot? Well, there are some things that you can do to save your plant if you act quickly. First of all, make sure that you check out the root of the plant for yourself. For example, if they are all dark in colour and slimy, it might be too late to recover the plant. But, if you see that some of the roots are still healthy, there is a possibility the plant can recover from root rot.
If you think that you can salvage your plant, you can try putting it into another pot. In particular, this should be one with drainage holes. You will also want to use fresh soil. Cut off the roots that are rotten too. Moving forward, make sure that there are enough drainage holes and that the plant is not getting overwatered. You are going to know in the next few weeks and months if you have managed to recover your plants from root rot.