# Why are plastic flowerpots sold without drainage holes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-plastic-flowerpots-sold-without-drainage-holes/693857>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 23, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-plastic-flowerpots-sold-without-drainage-holes/693857 "2014-07-23T18:13:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-plastic-flowerpots-sold-without-drainage-holes/693857/21 "2014-07-24T17:59:01Z")

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> [@Keeve](#):
>
> Sorry, but I still don’t get it. How often does this happen? How hard is it to figure out how much water to give it? Too much food is unhealthy for our zoological pets, but we learn the proper dosage; are the botanicals really so different?
> 
> Also: how often does it happen that the holes allow the soil to dry out too fast?

Without drainage many plants will die if their roots are left in standing water or wet soil. It isn’t a matter of adding the right amount of water to the pot, some of the water will end up in the bottom of the pot.

This problem is referred to as “wet feet” in gardening. It happens not only in pots but in poorly draining garden soil. Some plants like wet feet but most like a cycle of moisture, then drying, then more moisture. It is a common problem for avid new gardeners to over water thinking that it makes for a healthier plant and speeds growth, it doesn’t. It kills them.

Wet feet:

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**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-plastic-flowerpots-sold-without-drainage-holes/693857/22 "2014-07-24T18:39:17Z")

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> [@Dallas\_Jones](#):
>
> Without drainage many plants will die if their roots are left in standing water or wet soil. It isn’t a matter of adding the right amount of water to the pot, some of the water will end up in the bottom of the pot.
> 
> This problem is referred to as “wet feet” in gardening. It happens not only in pots but in poorly draining garden soil. Some plants like wet feet but most like a cycle of moisture, then drying, then more moisture.

THAT is an answer that this city boy can understand. Thank you.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-plastic-flowerpots-sold-without-drainage-holes/693857/23 "2014-07-24T19:01:11Z")

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The general rule is to poke a finger into the pot’s soil. Go about a inch and half deep. If the soil feels totally dry then the plant needs water.

It does vary from plant to plant. Some like tomatoes will wilt when they are too dry. They perk right back up when watered.

Too much water is harder to notice. Plants have a nasty habit of dying before you realize they got over watered. I’ve learned the hard way its better to under water just a little than over water.

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