Do plants need a drainage hole?

Most do. A drainage hole lets excess water escape so the roots are not left sitting in soggy soil, which is the most common cause of root rot. A few succulents and cacti are especially sensitive to wet feet and really should have one.

Do your planters come with a drainage hole?

Many of our planter designs include a drainage hole and pair with a matching saucer. Because every piece is made to order, you can ask us to add a hole or leave one off for a specific planter. Just mention it in the notes field at checkout and we will confirm what is possible before we print.

How do you use a planter without a drainage hole?

Keep the plant in a plastic nursery liner you can lift out to water at the sink, then drop it back once it has drained. Water sparingly and let the soil dry between drinks. A layer of gravel at the bottom does not replace real drainage, so the nursery-liner trick is the safer route.

Field Notes · Nº 09

Do Planters Need Drainage Holes?

It is the question that decides whether a plant thrives or quietly drowns. The short answer: most plants are happiest in a pot that can drain, and getting this right matters more than almost any other choice you make. Here is why, plus your options either way.

Why drainage matters

When you water a plant, the soil holds what the roots need and the rest should run off. Without an exit, that extra water collects at the bottom and keeps the soil soggy. Roots sitting in standing water cannot breathe, and over a few weeks they begin to rot. This is the single most common way a healthy houseplant is lost, and it is almost always avoidable. A drainage hole and a saucer to catch the runoff solve it cleanly.

Do our planters have drainage holes?

Many of our planter designs include a drainage hole and pair with a matching saucer. And because every piece is made to order, you are not locked in: if you want a drainage hole added to a design that does not have one, or left off so a pot can hold a cutting in water, mention it in the notes field at checkout. We will let you know what is possible for that piece before we print it.

No drainage hole? Your options

Plenty of beautiful pots have no hole, and you can still use them well. The simplest method is to keep your plant in the plastic nursery liner it came in, set that inside the decorative pot, and lift it out to water at the sink. Once it has drained, drop it back in. If you would rather plant directly, water sparingly and let the soil dry well between drinks. One myth worth retiring: a layer of gravel at the bottom does not create drainage, it just raises the soggy zone, so the nursery-liner approach is the safer one.

Match the pot to the plant

Thirsty, forgiving plants like pothos and ferns are relaxed about their pot. Succulents, cacti, and snake plants store water in their leaves and rot fastest when waterlogged, so for those a drainage hole is worth insisting on. For a quick guide by plant, see best planters for your plant, and our plant care guide covers how often to water.

Browse the planters, made to order in nine matte colors in our Seattle-area studio.

More field notes

Plant Care. Light, water, and drainage, plus a quick guide by plant: succulents, pothos, snake plants, ferns, herbs, and monstera.
Best Planters for Your Plant. How to match pot size, drainage, and style to succulents, pothos, snake plants, ferns, and statement plants.
3D-Printed vs. Ceramic Planters. An honest comparison: weight, durability, drainage, detail, cost, and sustainability.
Styling Planters on a Shelf. Grouping in threes, varying the height, mixing texture, and leaving room to breathe.
Are 3D-Printed Planters Safe for Plants?. The honest answer: the materials (PLA and PETG), drainage, growing edible herbs, heat, and how long they last.
How to Repot a Houseplant. When to do it, what size pot to choose, the steps start to finish, and how to help the plant settle in.
The Best Planters for Snake Plants. Size, why drainage matters most, keeping a tall plant stable, and styling Sansevieria with a sculptural pot.
Small Planters for a Desk. Picking a desk-friendly size, keeping water off your desk, and easy plants that thrive in a small pot.
Modern Planters for Pothos. The right pot size for a trailing pothos, why drainage matters, and styling a vine on a shelf or hung high.