Follow the water through a container
Follow where water enters a pot, how it drains and where it collects before choosing a container’s position.
A container is part of a water route. Before choosing its position, check where water can enter, leave and collect around it.
Inspect the pot's drainage openings without lifting a heavy planted container alone. Check the manufacturer's information and the needs of the identified plant. A decorative outer pot may have no outlet, even when the inner growing pot does. Keep those two functions distinct.
Look below the pot
Notice the saucer, shelf or floor beneath it. Water leaving the growing medium still needs somewhere appropriate to go. Protect vulnerable surfaces and avoid creating a slippery area or dripping onto a neighbour's property. Do not assume that a layer of stones replaces a suitable drainage arrangement.
When watering, observe how the container behaves and use reliable guidance for the particular plant and growing medium. The appearance of the top surface alone does not explain moisture throughout the pot. Avoid prescribing a fixed quantity for every container.
Record any change you make, including the pot and mix used. If a plant is struggling, check its identity and seek suitable horticultural advice rather than repeatedly changing several conditions at once. Following the water route gives you a concrete starting point and helps separate a container problem from an assumption about the plant.
