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Flooded
Just been out on the deck as I do first thing most mornings to check my plants. All this rain we have had and 3 of my large pots containing clematis are flooded with water...............yes, you guessed it; I didn't check the pot for drainage holes when I chose my pots. What can I do to remedy this? am I able to repot these plants? Help much appreciated.............
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PS..............Pots are glazed and don't think I will be able to add drainage holes???????? Or will I ???
I am no expert on clematis.
But you could hold some paper over the soil, to hold it in place, and then carefully tip the pots onto their sides, to let all the water drain away.
I do have some large glazed pots. Most of mine do have holes, even if they are very small; though perhaps yours do not. Conceivably, someone who was expert, could dill a hole into the bottom of a pot, tipped on its side. In that case you could leave the plants in the pots, as they are.
Hopefully you'll get some much better answers, very shortly....
First you need to drain the exess water either by laying them on there side or take them out the pots and re pot into plastic pot with holes and then you could put them back in there orignial pots. dont leave them to sit in the water or the plant will die.
You can drill drainage holes, Lucy, if you want to go to the trouble. Put the pots on their side (using something to retain the soil as Gary suggests) and decide where you want the holes. Stick short lengths of masking tape (about an inch wide) on the spots. The tape will help guard against chipping or cracking. Mark the spots on the tape where you're going to drill.
You'll need two, possibly three masonry bits, depending how big you want the holes to be. Start with a small bit just to create the hole without stressing the pot. Then change to a larger bit to enlarge the hole. And so on until you've got the hole size you want.
You're a faster typist than me, figrat!
Hi everyone - thankyou so much for your replies and your support/help.
Gary/Italophile I have done what you suggested and have managed to put three holes in the bottom of the pots, about the size of a 5pence piece. was a bit tricky but managed in the end - couldnt delegate as partners left for work already
the tape got a little mangled around the drill bits but I managed it in the end
I have re-potted the clematis's for now as 3 pots flooded all together and will put them back in glazed pots later today.
Will the 5p size holes be adequate do you think?
Thanks again, Lucy x
Never seen a 5p coin but Google tells me it's about 3/4". Is that right? Three of those should do the job depending on the size of the pot. To aid pot drainage, I slip a couple of pieces of slate or tile under the edges of the pots to keep them clear of the ground. The only challenge is balancing them!