A layer of gravel improves drainage in plant pots

What is it about?

Gardeners often all a drainager layer of gravel at the bottom of plant pots. But some professionals say that these layers actually make drainage worse. This experiment measured the water retention of pots with and without drainage layers, and found that layers do improve drainage after all.

Featured Image

Photo by おにぎり on Unsplash

Photo by おにぎり on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research confirms a longstanding gardening practise, and refutes popular "mythbusting myth" of recent years. It shows that theoretical predictions about water behaviour in plant pots aren't always enough to determine what will happen in real-world situations.

Perspectives

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I'm pleased to have published a study which conclusively answers a question that's been debated in gardening circles for a long time. And I hope it inspires further research into real-world home gardening practises and how they work.

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