Plants cultivated at home need a special approach to the organization of the soil for their active and correct development. So, they definitely need drainage.
Expanded clay
This real material is made from kiln-fired clay. Has a porous granule texture, aimed at maintaining air exchange, capable of retaining and providing moisture.
Expanded clay is used for the lower and upper drainage layers of indoor crops. The drainage, located at the bottom of the pot, protects the root system from stagnant water, absorbs excess, gradually giving it to the surrounding space. This has a beneficial effect on moisture-loving crops that require frequent watering - the soil stops souring. In the intervals between watering, the flower will not fall prey to drought.
Shards
The most common material for drainage is considered to be shards, which are most often used by flower growers.
They collect shards of broken dishes and find such useful uses for them. This is a good idea because shards are lightweight and do not draw in or retain moisture. Sometimes growers take two large fragments and place them on the bottom of the container with the convex side up.
Styrofoam
A material that is light enough and not dangerous for home flowers, it easily permits moisture, air masses, and also contributes to loosening the soil.
The foam is broken into small pieces and laid out on the bottom of the container. Prepared soil is poured on top of the material, and during planting, pay attention to the fact that the roots do not touch the foam. They continue to take care of the plant in the old way.
Coconut fiber
The material is a natural soil substrate for indoor crops. When using it, you can do without an additional drainage layer.
Coconut fiber does not settle over time and continues to retain its friability. Due to the fiber capillary system, moisture distribution in the soil is moderate and moisture can be retained for a long time. The high degree of porosity allows air to penetrate to the root system.
Research carried out by German growers proved that indoor plants that were in coconut fiber bloomed much earlier and had more lush flowering.
Moss
For drainage, you can use ordinary sphagnum moss, because it retains moisture well, gradually transferring it to the flower. In addition, sphagnum has healing and disinfecting properties.
The only drawback is that it is not always possible to find it. In this regard, it is necessary to acquire moss in advance: buy it in a specialized store or, if possible, collect it yourself.
The sphagnum collected from the forest must be soaked for 30 minutes in a warm, clean liquid so that it absorbs moisture and can cleanse itself of bugs.
Charcoal
Anthracite draws in excess water and the main amount of mineral salts, and when the earth dries up, it gradually returns the water back. In addition, it has antiseptic properties and is considered an excellent substrate and useful fertilizer.
The main advantages of this drainage option are neutral chemical reaction, porous texture and low material weight. Drainage in the form of charcoal is placed on the bottom of the flowerpot, the layer should be less than 2 cm.
Eggshell
Eggshells can also be used as drainage.
All collected shells must be washed. This procedure will help get rid of the unpleasant odor from the deterioration of the leftover protein. Then the material is dried in the oven or naturally until it becomes brittle. Finally, the shells are placed on the bottom of the flower pot to maintain the drainage of excess liquid after watering.
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