Do Succulents Need Drainage Holes?

by Succulent Market AdminAug 17, 2020

A customer asking "do succulents need drainage holes?"

A common question many people have when buying a succulent is “does my succulent pot need a drainage hole”? The answer is No. In order to successfully grow a succulent drainage holes are not necessary. It is just easier to successfully maintain your succulent if your pot does have drainage holes. In this article, we will reflect upon why it is best to have a drainage hole for your pots when growing succulents, but it is always important to remember the drainage holes are not essential for proper succulent care. We will then dive into how to successfully care for your succulent even when no drainage holes are present.

 1. It Is Best to Have Drainage Holes

It is considered best to have drainage holes for your pots because it makes the day to day care of your succulent easier. The reason why most people buy succulents is because they are beautiful, hard to kill, and easy to care for. Drainage holes simply make succulents easier to care for due to their ability to help avoid rot. Succulents enjoy dry arid climates. For this reason, succulent roots cannot be drowned or exposed to too much water. If the moisture in a succulent’s soil is too much then this will cause the succulent’s roots to rot. This is the exact reason why drainage holes are so important. When watering your succulent excess water drips out of the drainage holes at the bottom of your pot. If there are no drainage holes, then that water will accumulate at the bottom of the pot. This excess of water will cause the roots of your succulent to rot.

2. Drainage Holes Are Good, But Not Essential

When thinking of whether your pot needs drainage holes it is important to remember that it is best to have drainage holes, but it is still easy to care for your succulents when your pot does not have drainage holes. Drainage holes simply make it easier for you to not rot the roots of your succulents. If your succulent does not have drainage holes simply just water your succulent until the soil is damp. When doing this it is critical to be sure that you do not waterlog the soil as there is no way for the excess water to drain from the soil now that drainage holes are not present.

Ultimately it is best to have drainage holes, but your succulents will still be able to thrive without drainage holes. Drainage holes simply make succulent care easier. When drainage holes are present you can mindlessly water your succulent by drenching it and allowing for excess water to flow out the bottom. Watering succulents without drainage holes takes a little more patience, attention, and feel. When first starting to water your succulents without drainage holes it may at first seem daunting, but it is really not that challenging. If you do not waterlog the soil, when watering your succulent without drainage holes, then your succulent should be completely fine. The last thing to remember when watering succulents with drainage holes or without drainage holes is to always wait to water your succulents until the soil is completely dry. If there is any moisture whatsoever in your succulent do not water. This final step is the most important is because succulents become stronger when they are subjected to stress. By allowing your succulent to go through a dry period, where the succulent is starved of water, then your succulent will become more colorful, stronger, and healthier.