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Do Cactus Need Drainage Holes?(&<div class="entry-meta"><span class="posted-on"><span class="published" itemprop="datePublished">September 1, 2020</span><span class="updated" itemprop="dateModified"> September 1, 2020</span></span></div></h2></div></header><div class="entry-content clear" itemprop="text"><p>Cactuses are plants habituated to grow in drought-prone areas having soil rich in organic materials that have superior drainage. So to make them grow wonderfully in your home you need to provide them with conditions as close to its native place as possible.</p><p>Do cactus need drainage holes? <strong>Cactuses hate damp soil that remains moist for a long time. Their roots are susceptible to root rot owing to the presence of moisture in the soil. Cactuses survive vibrantly when grown in a drainage friendly soil &amp; pots having drainage holes at the bottom.</strong><span id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-148" class="ezoic-adpicker-ad"></span></p><div id="ez-toc-container" class="ez-toc-v2_0_33_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction"><div class="ez-toc-title-container"><p class="ez-toc-title">Table of Contents</p><span class="ez-toc-title-toggle"><a target="_blank" href="https://easysucculentcare.com/cactus-drainage-holes/#" class="ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle" style="display:none"><label for="item" aria-label="Table of Content"><i class="ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle"></i></label><input type="checkbox" id="item"></a></span></div><nav><ul class="ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1"><li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3"><a target="_blank" class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1" href="https://easysucculentcare.com/cactus-drainage-holes/#What_is_the_use_of_Drainage_Holes_and_why_is_it_important" title="What is the use of Drainage Holes and why is it important">What is the use of Drainage Holes and why is it important</a></li><li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3"><a target="_blank" class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2" href="https://easysucculentcare.com/cactus-drainage-holes/#Problems_you_can_Face_while_Growing_Cactuses_without_Drainage_holes" title="Problems you can Face while Growing Cactuses without Drainage holes">Problems you can Face while Growing Cactuses without Drainage holes</a></li><li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3"><a target="_blank" class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3" href="https://easysucculentcare.com/cactus-drainage-holes/#Can_you_grow_Cactuses_without_Drainage_holes" title="Can you grow Cactuses without Drainage holes?">Can you grow Cactuses without Drainage holes?</a></li><li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3"><a target="_blank" class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4" href="https://easysucculentcare.com/cactus-drainage-holes/#So_Should_you_Grow_cactus_with_Drainage_Holes_or_without_Drainage_Holes" title="So Should you Grow cactus with Drainage Holes or without Drainage Holes?">So Should you Grow cactus with Drainage Holes or without Drainage Holes?</a></li><li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3"><a target="_blank" class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5" href="https://easysucculentcare.com/cactus-drainage-holes/#How_to_Care_Grow_Cactuses_Indoors_with_Drainage_Holes" title="How to Care & Grow Cactuses Indoors with Drainage Holes">How to Care &amp; Grow Cactuses Indoors with Drainage Holes</a></li><li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3"><a target="_blank" class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6" href="https://easysucculentcare.com/cactus-drainage-holes/#Conclusion" title="Conclusion">Conclusion</a></li></ul></nav></div><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="What_is_the_use_of_Drainage_Holes_and_why_is_it_important"></span><strong><span id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-108" class="ezoic-adpicker-ad"></span><span class="ezoic-ad ezoic-at-0 mobile-leaderboard-1 mobile-leaderboard-1108 adtester-container adtester-container-108" data-ez-name="easysucculentcare_com-mobile-leaderboard-1"><span id="div-gpt-ad-easysucculentcare_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0" ezaw="300" ezah="250" style="position:relative;z-index:0;display:inline-block;padding:0;min-height:250px;min-width:300px" class="ezoic-ad"><script data-ezscrex="false" data-cfasync="false" style="display:none">if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'easysucculentcare_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_12',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-easysucculentcare_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');What is the use of Drainage Holes and why is it important<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span><p>Drainage holes can fullfil 5 important aspects:</p><ul><li><strong>Helps in getting rid of excess water:</strong> As succulents including cactuses dislike being in wet conditions for a long time, cactus mix soil & drainage holes of the pot are just a perfect match. <em>They help in getting rid of the water as soon as possible giving the cactus just enough time to absorb the needed water.</em> Cactus roots when kept in damp conditions for long can develop root rot which slowly ends up killing the plant.</li><li><strong>Helps in better Root development: </strong>When you have holes in place, you can water freely and drench the cactus every time you water them until water starts oozing out of the drainage holes. <em>You should only water cactuses when the soil is dry but when you do you should not hold back.</em> This further helps in better root development as the roots can go deeper in search of water. However, you cant drench cactuses without holes so the roots can be a lot weaker in that case.<span class="ezoic-autoinsert-ad ezoic-under_first_paragraph"></span><span style="clear:both;display:block" id="ez-clearholder-medrectangle-3"></span><span class="ezoic-ad ezoic-at-0 medrectangle-3 medrectangle-3320 adtester-container adtester-container-320" data-ez-name="easysucculentcare_com-medrectangle-3"><span id="div-gpt-ad-easysucculentcare_com-medrectangle-3-0" ezaw="250" ezah="250" style="position:relative;z-index:0;display:inline-block;padding:0;min-height:250px;min-width:250px" class="ezoic-ad"><script data-ezscrex="false" data-cfasync="false" style="display:none">if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'easysucculentcare_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',320,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-easysucculentcare_com-medrectangle-3-0');Helps you to understand the water needs of the cactus better: Succulents are sensitive to overwatering and easily catches a root rot. So you should only water them when the soil is dry. How long it will take for the soil to be dry depends on the weather, the soil composition, and many other factors. So you can always use a moisture meter to check the soil or just put your fingers in the drainage holes and decide whether you need to water the cactus or not. If it feels dry, go ahead and water, if it feels damp then wait for a few more days.Flushes the Excess Salts out: If you use tap water for watering cactuses then there is a high chance a lot of unwanted minerals and salts are getting poured into the soil hidden in the tap water that can accumulate in the soil and harm the plant. The drainage holes help in flushing out the excess water along with which most of the salts also get pushed out because of the flow as most of the accumulation in the soil occurs at the bottom of the pot only.Promotes better aeration: Cactuses love well-aerated soil. Presence of inorganic components in the soil along with having drainage holes in the pot not only promotes drainage but also aeration. This means better oxygen supply for the roots. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Problems you can Face while Growing Cactuses without Drainage holes
Also Read: Is Tap Water Bad for Succulents? Can you grow Cactuses without Drainage holes?Even though growing cactuses without drainage holes is not something everyone should do, you can grow them without drainage holes. However, you need to be extremely cautious and need to have some extra measures in place.
Also read: Can you plant Succulents in Mason jars or Glass Containers? So Should you Grow cactus with Drainage Holes or without Drainage Holes?Ideally, you should always aim to grow cactuses with drainage holes. Growing succulents in pots having holes at the bottom save you from a whole lot of tension and trouble down the lane.
However, if you wanna grow them in decorative containers made of glass or mugs then you need to adapt the tips mentioned above and put a special emphasis on watering scarcely. How to Care & Grow Cactuses Indoors with Drainage Holes
ConclusionDrainage holes help in not only providing better drainage to the cactus but also indirectly promoting their better health. So consider growing your cactuses in pots having drainage holes as it will make your life much easier. Also Read:
Leave a comment below if you have any further queries! Post navigationDo cactus pots need holes?A container without any drainage holes is possible to use, however it should not be left where it may be rained on or drowned. Watering should also be closely monitored in these type of pots. Succulents have shallow roots, so a shallow bowl or pot works well.
How do you water a cactus without drainage?The goal is to pour on enough water that all the soil gets wet but avoid having excess water pool at the bottom of the pot. If you happen to pour on too much water, you can use a rag or paper towels to try and absorb some of it. If your pot is fairly small, you may be able to pour the excess water off.
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