Foreign horticultural experts say it's wrong to put stones in the bottom of the basin. It feels a little reasonable.

Some gardening experts have found that it is not a wise decision to put some gravel or rough material on the bottom of the basin, and it does not help drainage. Would you agree with the following views?

Every time I plant a plant, I habitually add a layer of gravel to the bottom of the flowerpot to increase the drainage of the soil, but is it really necessary, or does it really work?

When most flower growers pot plants, they will cover the bottom of the basin with gravel, pebbles, ceramsite and other gravel, but some friends do not put gravel on the bottom of the basin, and there seems to be no problem, and the plants can grow very well. and the roots don't rot.

In an educational article at the famous University of Illinois in the United States, it is said that putting a layer of gravel at the bottom of the basin will not help drainage. During watering, if too much water is deposited on the top of the gravel instead of flowing away from the cracks, if you put the gravel on the drainage hole at the basin bottom, it happens to block the drainage hole. They think that putting gravel on the basin bottom will not improve the drainage of the basin soil.

1. Why is it not suitable to put gravel at the bottom of the basin?

Old gardeners or experienced florists add gravel to the bottom of the pot when growing potted plants, but soil scientists in the United States have shown that gravel and other rough media do not improve drainage, but hinder it.

The point of view also includes that watering will cause friction between gravel and soil, and if too much watering is easy to cause plant root damage.

An associate professor of urban horticulture at Washington State University also believes that putting gravel and coarse materials at the bottom of the basin is not good for drainage and that there is no scientific basis for doing so.

2. The gravel layer improves the air circulation.

We all know that plants need good drainage for their roots to be ventilated, and these scientists have tested that when watered in gravel-covered pots, the water cannot seep into the gravel, which prevents water from flowing out of the flowerpots. And the cracks in the gravel will gradually be filled by the soil.

3. Disadvantageous to drainage?

Some people think that the space of basin soil is already very small, and if some gravel is added, it will reduce the growth space of plants, which is also disadvantageous to the growth of plants.

4. Adding drainage layer to the bottom of the basin will lead to root rot.

"plants need good drainage, especially those preserved in flowerpots," wrote McDavid, a master's gardener at the University of California. If the root of the plant is too long, it will cause rotten roots and even kill the plant. For a long time, gardeners are used to laying gravel, tiles and Styrofoam at the bottom of the container to prevent water from flowing out of the drainage hole. The water in the basin is easy to be full, and the plants are easy to lack oxygen or even suffocate.

5. Unnecessary weight of gravel water?

Some people think that adding a layer of gravel to the bottom of the basin will add unnecessary weight to the container and make it difficult to move.

These master gardeners think it unnecessary to add gravel to the bottom of the basin. If you are afraid that the soil will be washed away, you can add a layer of filter paper or newspaper to the bottom of the basin.

Do you think these statements are correct? Is it wrong to put gravel at the bottom of the basin?