Ideas for the base of pots please

[northepaul]

Hi there

I wondered if anyone had any good ideas of what to put at the bottom of pots for drainage - other than broken pots or stones? (Of which I dont have either )

Thank you all

[ginger ninger]

I use plastic bottle tops of 2 ltr pop bottles or 4 pts milk, you only throw them away, so you might as well put them to good use, plus you can boil them to steralize them and use them again....Give them a go

[Jillyreeves]

Broken up pieces of polystyrene is a good option if you can get hold of some and light weight too

[broadway]

I use the paper from our shredder, those "wotsits" type things you get from packaging, and any polystyrene I've saved.

[Two_Sheds]

I save up plastic bottle tops & coffee pods to use as crocks. I used to use polystyrene, but it crumbles all over the place when you re-pot.

Or use an upturned small plant pot.

[Bigmallly]

I used to use polystyrene, but it goes all over the place when you re-pot.

Funny you should say that TS, I re-potted a plant a couple of weeks ago forgetting that I had put polystyrene in the bottom & it came out in one lump, the roots were holding the polystyrene together.

[HeyWayne]

Anything non-porous and lightweight would be good I guess.

[Eco-Chic]

I use broken plastic pots (you know, the ones the dogs have chewed AFTER you've cleaned them), polystyrene, plastic milk containers, bulky but lightweight so I can move large pots around.

I have a huge container of broken terracotta, plates and cups that I shall use as drainage in raised beds or mulch on flower pots.

[grannymem]

I use wine bottle corks - and someone recently suggested putting discarded sponge pot scourers in the bottom of pots, having first removed the green scratchy bit.

[Glutton4...]

As you live on the coast, I would suggest shells!

Well, collecting them will keep you fit!

[jojo_nature]

I save any mussel shells when we have them to use in my pots .

[northepaul]

Ooh thank you everyone, these are such excellent ideas, I shall start saving poly-wotsits and milk bottle tops....Not sure about shells, but thanks anyway.

[quark1]

Empty snail shells - and many of the above.