Plants That Dont Need Drainage

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Living in a dry climate and worried about your plants not getting enough moisture? A great remedy for this is growing plants that don’t need drainage. At Your Home Your Garden, we offer you detailed gardening guides whether it’s learning all about house plants and other plants, how to mulch correctly, and even tips and tricks for growing your own peppers!

Depending on where you live, you may want to invest in indoor plants that do not need drainage of any kind. What’s even better is that most of these indoor plants also require far less care and precaution that most other plants do.

You can also read more about indoor plants like peace lilies and how to care for your monstera plants! If you want to know more about plants that don’t need drainage, keep on reading!

plants that don't need drainage

Best Plants that Don’t Need Drainage Holes

1. Snake Plant

An excellent and easy-to-care for indoor plant, the snake plant does not require drainage holes. It originated from West Africa and their leaves are unique in their shape and pattern. It is also extremely versatile and can be grown in a small pot or even in a bowl of water.

The snake plant can thrive in wet soil and it is also one of the most common indoor plant for beginners who are looking to invest in a moist soil plant that requires little care and can sustain without a drainage hole.

To grow snake plants, you simply need to cut off some of the plant and put it in a water bowl. After a few days, you will notice the cuttings evolving into beautiful blade shaped leaves. Make sure that the base of the plant gets ample support to keep the leaves upright.

Snake plant

2. Oleander Plant

Also referred to as a shrub plant, the Oleander is grown almost everywhere in the world so not much is known about its origin. It stands out for its beautiful, bright blooms that come in red, white, and even pink varieties.

However, as beautiful as they appear, the Oleander blooms are also extremely toxic. If you have kids or pets running about, we would not recommend planting it.

Largely grown indoors, the Oleander can also be grown in your outdoor garden. What stands out about it is that it can survive with little to no water at all and it also doesn’t have many requirements when it comes to soil moisture or quality. By simply feeding it 1-2 inches of water every 10 days or so, you can keep your Oleander healthy and strong.

This plant also enjoy direct sun but if it’s too harsh then the plant’s growth may be negatively affected.

Oleander plant

3. Crotons

Ever wondered about plants with leaves as tall as people and how they can survive without drainage holes? Croton plants are one such example!

Crotons are available in all kinds of sizes, shapes, and varieties. They thrive in warm temperatures and tropical climates and they also enhance the appeal of your indoor and outdoor garden thanks to their stunning coloring.

With lovely hues of reds and oranges, surrounded by rings of fresh green, the leaf color varies depending on the type of croton plants. If you want to get this plant home, we recommend using a well-draining soil.

Adding peat moss can also help with drainage without drainage holes. This is important since overwatering will lead this plant to die and its roots to rot.

Crotons plant

4. Chinese Evergreen

The Chinese evergreen plant is distinct for its stunning long and wide leaves that have hues of pinks, reds, and bright green. It is popular as it does not need drainage holes but it does thrive in wet environments.

With an even dose of moisture, the Chinese evergreen will grow beautifully. Just remember not to overwater the Chinese evergreen as this can lead to root rot. Wait for the soil to fully dry after the first watering cycle and then water it again.

The Chinese evergreen is beautiful to look at and extremely easy to care for!

Chinese evergreen

5. Schefflera

Another excellent choice for plants that don’t need drainage holes is the the Schefflera plant! It comes from the Araliaceae family and it has over 900 different sub-types.

Much like snake plants, this stunning plant can also grow in soil as well as water. Once you place some plant cuttings in water, you will begin to notice small leaves sprouting from it. The schefflera plants that you grow in water will not have an impressive height of 6-7 feet, but it will still be healthy and green all the same.

It thrives under direct sun and tropical environments. To keep it alive and well, we recommend giving it moderate or indirect sunlight that can help promote its growth cycle. Additionally, schefflera plants will benefit from any fertilizer once a year.

schefflera plant

6. Pothos

Pothos plants are also sometimes referred to as the Devil’s Ivy. These stunningly evergreen plants can grow up to 10-ft tall! Their heart-shaped leaves stand out and look beautiful indoors and outdoors.

Pothos plants thrive in direct sunlight and will grow faster if you plant them in a hanging basket instead of clay pots.

Pothos plants

7. Dumbcane

The dumbcane plant love moisture and thrive in wet soil and wet environments. Since they enjoy soaking in moist areas, you never have to worry about lack of drainage holes. Thus, you can even grow them as indoor plants using a container without drainage holes.

Its stunning leaves are long, wide, and green. Misting the leaves will also keep it fresh as it enjoys semi-humid surroundings. The dumb cane can also survive under different levels and intensities of light.

dumbcane plant

8. Cordyline

This is also known as the Hawaiin Ti’ plant and it looks absolutely gorgeous as indoor plants or outdoor plants. Its tall leaves have a reddish, pinkish hue and it immediately lifts the aesthetic appeal if your home and garden.

However, the cordyline plant is not the easiest to maintain and care for. It thrives in wet soil and good drainage can also help. If you notice the upper layers of the soil drying up, then water your cordyline plants immediately.

Cordyline plant

9. Spider Plant

One of the most popular indoor plants is the spider plant. It is known for its super fast growth and its long, thin leaves are known for their unique yellowish green coloring and are also easy to care for.

If you are new to gardening, we recommend investing in spider plants as they do not require drainage holes, nor are they difficult to look after. Spider plants hail from parts of Africa and can also be grown outdoors.

In fact, spider plants can also be grown in water bowls when they are fairly young. If you do choose to grow them in water, make sure you use fluoride-free water which is not damaging to the plant leaves.

Spider plant

10. Pineapple

Most people find it quite surprising that the pineapple plant can grow and thrive without any drainage holes. Much like the snake plant, the spider plant, and the dumbcane plant, the pineapple plant thrives perfectly in small containers as well and can grow in water.

All you need to plant it is a pineapple fruit from your nearest grocery shop! Once you have the crown removed, you can store the leaves in an open container and place them upside down so the bottom end can harden. Keep the container under direct sunlight for a few days and you will notice the roots growing after 7-10 days.

pineapple on plant

11. Rough Horsetail

The rough horsetail is a form of fern, although it certainly looks like tough bamboo. It can survive in murky, wet, and boggy areas especially when it grows in the wild.

You can even grow rough horsetail home in a container filled with water. It does not require any drainage holes and it is also extremely easy to look after be in you indoor or outdoor garden.

rough horsetail plant

12. Succulents

One of the most popular indoor plants that don’t need drainage holes, excess water, etc., are succulents. They thick, fleshy, drought-resistant plants can store water for long periods of time to sustain themselves in drought-like situations.

You can also water them if you like but there is no reason to fret if you skip. Succulents thrive in direct sunlight and also prefer coarse soil that helps in complete aeration and good drainage.

succulents

Frequently Asked Questions

Can plants survive in pots without drainage holes?

Yes, plants can survive in pots without a drainage hole. Plants like spider plant, lucky bamboo, snake plant, succulents, etc., can thrive inside containers and pots without holes. But, in such situations, you should ensure that you are watering slowly and sparingly.

What should you put in the bottom of a pot for drainage?

You can put perlite in the pot for better drainage. Perlight is a soil amendment that helps with root growth and better drainage.

Why do some gardeners put rocks in planters?

Some gardeners put rocks in planters for improved water retention. This rock barrier stops the water from evaporating from the soil. These also absorb excessive water in the pot and release moisture when the plant is drying out.

 

Abigail Clemente

Abigail Clemente

To say that Abigail is passionate about gardening and landscaping would be an understatement. Abigail came to Your House Your Garden team with an already exceptional portfolio as an experienced writer.

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