I have this lovely ceramic pot without drainage holes, and I'm thinking about transplanting my Christmas cactus into it. I'm really unsure about how to use it correctly. I know planting directly in the pot will lead to water logging, and I've heard that putting pebbles at the bottom doesn't fix the problem either. Am I right in thinking that the best solution is to find a fitting plastic pot that has drainage holes to place inside? But even then, the water that drains into the ceramic pot doesn't really go anywhere, and I'm not keen on the idea of having standing water sitting around for weeks. Sorry for overthinking this—any help would be appreciated!
4 Answers
Using a nursery pot inside your ceramic pot is definitely the way to go! Once you've watered, either pour out any excess water from the ceramic pot or just take the inner pot out to let it drain before putting it back. It's a super common method for keeping your fancy pots without needing drainage holes, and it works great!
You don't need the nursery pot to fit perfectly. Leave some extra space around it and fill those gaps with moss or rocks. If your plastic pot is too short, just elevate it with marbles or leca, and if it’s too tall, you can trim it a bit. It’s all about finding the right balance!
Another option is to keep the ceramic pot in a little bit of water. It will slowly absorb moisture and help keep the soil inside from getting too soggy. This works really well for plants that like to stay moist, like African violets and others. Just be cautious not to drown them!
If you're feeling adventurous, you can grab a masonry bit and drill holes in the ceramic pot yourself. That way, you can water it freely without worrying about standing water, just make sure to be careful while drilling!
This is how all my plants are kept! Nursery pot within a ceramic cache pot.