How to Improve Drainage in Pots

Poor drainage keeps soil wet too long, suffocates roots and invites rot. If your soil stays soggy for more than a week after watering, or if your plants show signs of overwatering despite careful watering, drainage is the problem. The solution involves fixing the soil not just watering less, because soil that can't drain will stay wet no matter how cautiously you water.

This guide covers practical ways to improve drainage in any potted plant. For watering fundamentals, see How to Water Houseplants.

The Direct Answer: Three Drainage Fixes

Problem	Solution
Dense, compacted soil	Amend with perlite or bark
Pot lacking drainage holes	Add holes or use a cachepot
Pot too large for plant	Downsize to appropriate pot

The rule: Good drainage requires porous soil in a well-sized pot with functioning drainage holes. All three matter.

Why Drainage Problems Occur

Soil Compaction Over Time

Fresh potting mix has air pockets. Over months and years:

Organic particles break down
Repeated watering compacts soil
Air spaces disappear
Drainage slows

Old soil drains poorly even if it drained well when fresh.

Wrong Soil for the Plant

Using dense, moisture-retentive soil for plants that need fast drainage creates ongoing problems. A succulent in peat-heavy soil will struggle regardless of how carefully you water.

Oversized Pots

A plant in too-large a pot can't use all the soil's moisture. The unused soil stays wet, often for weeks. See What Pot Size Should You Choose When Repotting?.

Blocked or Missing Drainage Holes

Holes clogged with soil, roots, or debris can't drain. Pots without holes trap water with no escape. See Drainage Holes: Why They Matter.

Method 1: Amend the Soil

The most effective drainage improvement comes from changing the soil composition.

Add Perlite

Perlite is expanded volcanic glass, lightweight, doesn't absorb water and creates permanent drainage channels.

How much to add:

Standard houseplants: 20-30% perlite by volume
Succulents and cacti: 40-50%
Already-chunky mixes: 10-20%

How to add it:

Remove plant from pot
Shake off loose soil
Mix perlite into remaining soil
Add fresh perlite-amended mix around the root ball
Repot and water

See for comparison of amendments.

Add Bark or Orchid Mix

Bark chips create chunky structure and air pockets:

Small bark pieces (1/4-1/2 inch) work best
Mix 20-30% into standard potting mix
Especially good for aroids (monstera, philodendron, pothos)

Orchid bark is widely available and works for many plants not just orchids.

Add Pumice

Pumice is volcanic rock that:

Creates drainage channels
Holds some moisture (unlike perlite)
Doesn't float to the surface
Is heavier, stabilizing tall plants

Use similarly to perlite 20-40% by volume depending on needs.

Add Coarse Sand

Horticultural sand (not fine beach sand) improves drainage:

Use sharp sand or coarse builder's sand
Mix 10-20% for most plants
Good for succulents and cacti
Adds weight, which stabilizes pots

Avoid fine sand, which can actually compact soil further.

Replace the Soil Entirely

If soil is severely compacted or degraded:

Remove plant and shake off all old soil
Mix fresh potting soil with drainage amendments
Repot with the new mix
Water thoroughly

This is more disruptive but sometimes necessary for badly degraded soil.

Method 2: Fix the Pot

Even well-amended soil can't drain if the pot won't let water escape.

Check Existing Drainage Holes

Ensure holes are open and functional:

Look for roots blocking holes
Clear any soil or debris
Check that saucers aren't holding water against the pot bottom

Add More Holes

If your pot has one small hole, adding more improves flow:

Terracotta/ceramic: Drill with masonry bit (slowly, with water)
Plastic: Drill or cut with a knife/heated tool
Aim for multiple 1/4-inch holes

Switch to a Different Pot

Some situations warrant a new pot:

Glazed ceramic with no holes → terracotta with holes
Solid decorative pot → use as cachepot with a draining inner pot
Very dense material → switch to breathable material

Use Pot Feet or Risers

Elevating the pot off its saucer:

Allows air circulation under the pot
Prevents the pot from sitting in water
Speeds drying through the drainage holes

Pot feet are inexpensive and make a noticeable difference.

Method 3: Right-Size the Pot

An oversized pot is a drainage problem in disguise.

The Problem

When a plant's root ball is much smaller than the pot:

Unused soil holds water the plant doesn't need
Roots can't absorb excess moisture
Soil stays wet for weeks
Root rot risk increases dramatically

The Solution

Repot into an appropriately sized container:

Aim for 1-2 inches larger than the root ball
If currently oversized, you can downsize
Remove excess soil and use a smaller pot

See How to Repot a Houseplant for repotting instructions.

Quick Fixes for Immediate Problems

Temporary Moisture Reduction

If you can't repot immediately but soil is staying too wet:

Move plant to brighter light (increases evaporation and water uptake)
Increase air circulation (fan, open window)
Water less frequently (but address the real problem soon)

These don't fix drainage but they buy time.

Dealing with Waterlogged Soil

If soil is saturated and won't dry:

Remove plant from pot
Wrap root ball in paper towels to absorb excess
Let sit out of pot for a few hours (don't let roots dry completely)
Repot in fresh, well-draining mix

Check roots for rot during this process. See .

What NOT to Do

Don't Add Rocks to the Bottom

The "drainage layer" of gravel at the bottom of a pot is a myth. It creates a perched water table that keeps soil above it wetter not drier. Water won't move from fine soil to coarse gravel until the soil is completely saturated.

Don't Just Water Less

Watering less frequently doesn't fix drainage it just means your plant alternates between dry and soggy instead of staying consistently appropriate. The soil still can't drain; it just takes longer to get saturated.

Don't Add More Soil on Top

Adding dry soil on top of wet soil doesn't help. The water is trapped below and now you have more mass sitting on struggling roots.

Don't Ignore the Problem

Drainage issues don't resolve themselves. Left unaddressed they lead to root rot and plant death. Fix it now rather than hoping it improves.

Soil Mixes for Good Drainage

Standard Well-Draining Mix

For most tropical houseplants:

2 parts potting soil
1 part perlite
1 part bark

Fast-Draining Succulent Mix

For cacti and succulents:

1 part potting soil
1 part perlite
1 part coarse sand

Chunky Aroid Mix

For monsteras, philodendrons, pothos:

1 part potting soil
1 part bark
1 part perlite
Optional: some charcoal or pumice

Orchid Mix (Extreme Drainage)

For orchids and very rot-prone plants:

Bark only, or
Bark with sphagnum moss
Little to no soil

Signs Your Drainage Has Improved

After fixing drainage:

Soil dries in 4-7 days instead of 10+
No water pools on the surface after watering
Water flows freely from drainage holes
Plants stop showing overwatering symptoms
Fungus gnats decrease (they love wet soil)

Common Mistakes

Fixing Only One Factor

Improving soil but leaving a pot without holes still causes problems. Address all three: soil composition, pot drainage and pot size.

Using Too Much Amendment

More than 50% perlite or bark can make soil drain too fast, especially in small pots. Balance drainage with some moisture retention.

Choosing Style Over Function

That beautiful pot without drainage holes will kill your plant eventually. Either drill holes or use it as a cachepot only.

Ignoring Old Soil

Soil more than 2-3 years old often needs replacement not just amendment. Old organic matter breaks down and compacts regardless of what you add.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use gravel as a drainage amendment in the soil mix?

Small gravel or pea gravel can work when mixed throughout soil (not layered at the bottom). It's less effective than perlite or bark but adds some drainage. It also adds significant weight.

My pot has good drainage, so why is soil still wet?

Check light levels, pot size and root health. Good drainage helps but if the plant isn't using water (low light, dormant, root damage) or the pot is too large soil will stay wet regardless.

Will adding drainage amendments hurt my plant?

When done during repotting, no. The short-term stress of repotting is offset by the long-term benefit of healthy roots. Choose a good time (growing season) and follow aftercare guidelines.

How do I know if I've added enough perlite?

The mix should feel noticeably lighter and chunkier than straight potting soil. When you water, you should see water flow freely from drainage holes without pooling on the surface.