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Saucer or not?

torpor-cupfuls.0rtorpor-cupfuls.0r Posts: 2
in Plants
I have taken all of my potted plants off my decking and put them on a shingle laid path specially made for them. Hubby says they should still be in their saucers but I’m not so sure as some are getting waterlogged. He’s worried about the roots growing through the shingle into the earth underneath. Expert advice needed please. 
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  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It depends on the plants and how willing you are to keep an eye on them over winter
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Doghouse RileyDoghouse Riley Posts: 347
    edited October 2021
    Our ceramic pots sit on plastic pot movers on our patios.

    I drilled a drain hole through the centre of each pot mover. In the summer I put a dab of silicone over the hole so it will retain a bit of water, as the heat reflected off  patios can "cook" the pots.
    But now the silicone has been removed, so they don't retain the water.
    We've a couple of dozen pots, mostly roses.

    It's worked well for me for years.




  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    If in doubt, turn the saucers over. That's what I do in prolonged wet weather.
  • Doghouse RileyDoghouse Riley Posts: 347
    edited October 2021
    Woodgreen said:
    If in doubt, turn the saucers over. That's what I do in prolonged wet weather.
    That's a good idea, I'd forgotten about it,  it's what I do with a few that are "out of favour" that live in smaller pots along the side of our drive and don't get a potmover.



  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you're in a wet area they'll just rot if left in saucers in wet conditions. It's never a good idea to leave plants in that kind of situation over winter. The only plants that like permanently wet feet are pond plants. 
    They'll be fine sitting on the gravel over winter, because they're unlikely to be growing much at this time of year, but - it depends on what plants they are. If you can give us an idea of what they are, we can offer more advice.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • torpor-cupfuls.0rtorpor-cupfuls.0r Posts: 2
    I live in a coastal area of Cornwall. Seldom see snow but can get very cold, wet & windy!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I was going to say that, another problem is that soaking and then freezing can also cause problems, especially to the pots, but that may not apply to you if you're down there!
    Unfortunately, we have all of those weather features here, and often in the same day   ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Few plants like to stand in water.  Oleanders and Fuchsias i would say are the exception.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    You can fill the saucers with the gravel so any excess water spills over the edge and the pot sitting on top is out of the water.  Then your hubby won’t worry about roots.  
    Utah, USA.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Any roots would still be sitting in water though, if they are starting to come through the holes, and the water would also leach up into the soil in the pots, leaving it permanently wet.
    Gravel filled saucers would still be full of water, which is the main problem for the plants. 
    In persistently wet areas, it would be crazy to leave potted plants sitting in saucers.   :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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