Crocks or Paper

[Rich45s]

Not being able to reach my crocks today as was half way through a bit of DIY, when I fancied doing something more fun so potted up some cactus. As a result of not reaching the crocks, I just used some tissue paper to stop the soil etc falling out the drainage holes at the bottom.

As it’s such thin tissue paper is this an issue? In my mind, it makes more sense than crocks as the water will drip through and eventually by the time it collapses the lower soil will seemingly ‘harden’ up And so won’t fall through the holes by then.

Thank you for advice

[Eric Williams]

I do one of two things. A bit of news paper on the bottom. Will rot away quite soon. The late Rene Giesler always said re pot with damp compost, just a spray of water. Prevents compost fron falling through drainage holes.

[Ali Baba]

Paper. Crocks just move the water table further up the pot

[iann]

Paper. Crocks just move the water table further up the pot

So crocks in a deeper pot then?

[Ali Baba]

You could do or if you want healthy roots all the way down to the bottom of the pot, no crocks and stand the pot on layer of sand

[Rich45s]

Nice one folks. Nice to be vindicated. I’ve often used paper, this was just laziness though

[FredG]

I've been known to use non-woven shade cloth/ fleece.

[MatDz]

I've recently got a roll of "Fixman 192486 Compound & Plasterboard Joint Tape 48mm x 90m" off A., I cannot see me going through it anytime soon. 2-3 mm holes, self-adhesive on one side, I cut it in half for terracotta pots up to 14 cm.

[rodsmith]

I have used folded kitchen towel for several years. When I repot, the paper has usually disappeared.

[edds]

I use crocks in clay pots as I find the dry soil often falls out the larger single hole when I move pots, even months after potting. I don't find it necessary in plastic pots with their smaller, multiple drainage holes.

In clay pots I just use a single piece across the drainage hole. The slight curve keeps a gap between crock and pot. The compost reaches all the way to the bottom of the pot around this so, according to articles I've read this won't raise the water table any more than not using them.