pots without holes

KZitzewitz

Is it smart to place drainage rocks at the bottom of a planter if it has no holes, and what should the watering habits be if done that way, I found some cool pots for cheap (will got back and get them if I get some good responses). But none of tyhem had holes, and I am afraid of breaking some if they do not have holes and I can't drill them safely.

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--Kristopher

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Pots without holes aren't good for bonsai. As water flows out the drainage holes, it pulls oxygen in behind it. Without drainage you would have a stagnant situation.

If they are inexpensive pots you should have no trouble drilling them. If they are bonsai-style pots they may be [i:faa9eea29a]sui-ban[/i:faa9eea29a] or water trays used for displaying suiseki. Make sure you know before you drill them as a nice sui-ban can cost more than a bonsai pot, and it might even be an antique.

Assuming your pots are not national treasures, you can go ahead and try drilling them.

Get a masonry bit at least 1/2 inch in diameter. Your average twist-drill won't work for this - at least not twice. Masonry bits are much harder and have less fluting. A drill press works best and makes quick work, but you can apply pressure straight down with a hand drill, from the outside in.

If the hole is large or deep, a pilot hole may make the work go faster.

If the pot is shallow, you can drill it from the inside if you bed it in a layer of sand. Keep the drill bit cool as you go, with a thin layer of water on the pot or a few drops of mineral oil every couple of minutes.

As the drill begins to penetrate, flip the pot over and complete the drilling from the from the other side. These 1/2 inch holes are not very large, so you would need a minimum of three or four of them to do any good.

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