Can I Put Mulch in the Bottom of My Planter?

If your planter has very big drain holes, you need to put something between the holes and the soil.

It will help keep the roots from growing through the holes, and it will hold the soil and plant material and stop it from flowing out.

One of the best ways to separate the holes from the soil is to put mulch at the bottom of your planter.

Continue to read more!

Putting Mulch in the Bottom of Your Planter: Is It a Good Idea?

Putting a little mulch at the bottom of your planter can be a good way to enhance drainage. Plus, you’ll need less soil to fill the container! Mulch protects roots from harmful effects of sun and decomposes and provides nutrients into the soil. Mulch also encourages water retention, which is nice during drought.

What Kind of Mulch Is Best for Potted Plants?

Mulch types 1

Generally speaking, there are two types of mulch:

  1. natural
  2. artificial

Natural Mulches

“Mulch made from natural sources can help your indoor plants in multiple ways.
It can provide an additional food source for your plant as it breaks down.

Below is a list of the best types of natural mulch you can add to your indoor potted plants:

  • Wood Chips: Either buy wood chips from your local hardware or garden shop. If you’re looking to create homemade wood chips, avoid making them from wood that has lots of fungi on it.
  • Grass Clippings: Grass clippings should be thoroughly dried in the sun before adding to your planter.
  • Dried Leaves: Dried leaves can be used as mulch (as long as they are clean and completely dry). It’s useful to shred the dried leaves before putting into the pot.
  • Paper: Shredded paper (from newspapers or books) can also be added to potted plants as mulch.
  • Moss: Spanish moss can also be a great mulch option for potted plants that won’t be exposed to daily direct sun.
  • Hemp: Hemp has excellent weed suppression which makes it a useful type of mulch for potted plants.
  • Coconut Coir: Like wood chips and leaves, coconut coir is broken down over time and can be used as an edible mulch.
  • Pine Needles: Dried pine needles take a long time to break down which can be beneficial to your plants’ health.”

Artificial Mulches

Artificial mulches (think pebbles, pecan shells, marbles) are kinder to outdoor plants since they are heavier.

Just remember, pebbles could get inadvertently mixed into the soil, so be aware of that when you’re repotting.

How to Add Mulch to Your Potted Plants?

Add mulch

If you want to add mulch, make sure it’s a minimum 2-3″ deep.

It should need to be lying on top of the soil, not sitting on it.

With the mulch on top of the soil, your plant should still be getting the nutrient it needs, with the mulch.

You should have uniformly filled in the bottom of the pot area and the sides with soil as well.

Sometimes you need to put a liner in the pot if you are not using a potting medium.

Also, keep the mulch at least 3″ from stems for even more protection.

Adding Drain Holes to Your Planters

If your planters don’t originally come with drain holes, the mulch wouldn’t do hardly anything.

So before you add mulch, make sure you have at least one drain hole in your planter.

Try this: One way to add drain holes to your pots without cracking it is to put duct tape on both sides of the container. Then drill your hole through the tape. You can take off the tape when you’re done.

How to Water Mulched Potted Plants?

When it comes to plants that are mulched, they are typically at an increased risk of being overwatered. However, this can be easily avoided with a couple of tricks.

One trick to prevent overwatering is to take the mulch away when watering so that you can see the soil. Likewise, the size of the pot and/or size of the plant should also be taken into consideration.

Further, a large potted plant would require more watering than a smaller potted plant.

Nonetheless, you must still absent the opportunity to dry between watering and for the pot not to go completely dry.

When Should You Mulch Potted Plants?

Mulch potted plants

For the most part, you’re going to want to mulch potted plants when they reach at least 3-5 inches in height.

If you’ve just planted the seeds, mulch is almost guaranteed to halt the plants from germinating.

This is a step you certainly do not want to take at the very beginning of this process.

Keep in mind that you will have to remove the mulch at the end of the growing season.

If the mulch has not decomposed throughout the entire season, however.

Warning: Once there are signs of fungi growing on it, you need to immediately remove it.

Tips to Maintain Your Container Garden

Besides putting down mulch in the bottom of your planters, here are some additional tips to keep your container gardening in top form:

  • Clean your pots using a bleach/water solution a couple times each year
  • Pick the right plants for their location in your home based on light level
  • Don’t bury the crowns of your plants in the soil to prevent rotting
  • Use some foliage plants to create variation and texture in your container garden
  • Reduce the space between pots to have more impact.
  • Use roofing tar to paint the inside of terra cotta pots to protect them from cracking during winter
  • Use little stands or bricks to raise up the pots and improve drainage.

Final Thoughts

So there was a brief explanation about why placing mulch in the bottom of your planters is the best route to take.

Depending on your garden, it can be advantageous as you’ll use less soil, and you’ll have efficient drainage.

Adding mulch will also add to the overall aesthetics of your planters.

So what are you waiting for? Start adding some mulch to your planters and enjoy the garden you have always dreamed of!

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