“What should I fill the bottom of a large planter with?” is one of the most often asked questions. When you have big and commercial planters, potting soil costs quickly add up. If you don’t want to and can’t afford to, you don’t have to fill a big planter using soil.
There are many different elements you should use that are effective and will guarantee the potted tree or plant keeps growing but also flourishing. To help you save time, effort, and money, we’ll look at the top materials for filling the bottom of a big planter in this article.
Considerations To Make Before Filling The Bottom Of Your Large Planter
You must first know the precise needs of the tree or plant you desire to pot. The quantity of room needed in the pot and planter will probably vary depending on the kind of tree or plant you have. Once you know how much room you need to fill, you can start.
High-quality potting soil, rather than standard garden soil, should be chosen if you only intend to fill a small area.
It is also worth mentioning that weeds and perhaps other impurities in the soil from your garden or other places are probably preventing the growth of your plant or tree.
The purpose of potting soil is to enable good drainage in a planter. Planters containing soil from the earth may have drainage problems, weight problems, and possible freeze-thaw problems.
The most appropriate filler for your planter’s base can be found in the list below if you have a sizable space at the bottom that needs to be filled.
When The Pot Is Full, Will You Need To Move It?
After the plant container is filled, if you need to move it—for example, to bring it inside for the winter—you should be very mindful of its weight. However, you won’t have to consider weight if you are simply planting the pot, and it won’t be moved.
Large clay as well as ceramic pots can weigh a lot by themselves. When potting soil and plants are added, they can become too heavy to move unless removing all of the soil is done.
Alternatively, you’ll need a hand truck to transfer them. Moving lightweight plastic or fiberglass pots—many of which have porcelain or concrete-like appearances—is easy. Again, once they are loaded with soil and other pot fillers, picking them up can be challenging.
Plan accordingly for your needs. It will also depend on the type of planter you have, you should purchase a planter that can be easy to move but also makes your space look more aesthetic.
One of the best places to purchase tall planters is at https://www.soothingcompany.com/collections/tall-planters, so browse through their site and find the one that suits you best.
Key Options To Fill The Bottom Of Your Planter
Before we talk about the items you should use, let’s quickly talk about the items you shouldn’t use. Corn-based packing peanuts should not be used; they will deteriorate when they come into contact with water.
With that being said, here are some of the best options you can choose from to fill the bottom of your huge planter.
1. Recycling Plastics
Plastic pollution is now a significant environmental problem, as we all likely know. Use recycled plastic items like milk, juice jugs, supermarket bags, water, and perhaps even soda bottles that you may have sitting around to cover the bottom of your huge planter. The huge planter’s base is a better place for plastic than a landfill.
2. Packing Supplies
If the packing peanuts are not the kind that dissolves in water, then you can utilize them. Styrofoam peanuts work well. To keep them steady and in position, ensure they are enclosed in a bag.
Additionally, if you choose to repot the plant, it simplifies your life. Styrofoam blocks can also be used. Again, make sure they are stable by positioning them in a bag.
3. Metal containers
Each week, many of us consume a sizable amount of canned food. Utilize recycled materials by crushing and piling cans to fill the space needed in your huge planter.
4. A plastic pot
Packages created of plastic from frozen foods, as well as takeout, can be useful. Simply flip them over so that the flat underside is facing up.
This will give your plant or tree a stable base to stand at the bottom of the big planter.
5. Natural Resources
A mixture of valuable natural things can lie around your house or in your garden. Sticks, leaves, pine cones, and wood chips can all be used, but they will all decompose over time, making them a sustainable option for seasonal planters who report frequently.
6. Cardboard And Waste Paper
Crush up some old newspapers or Amazon delivery boxes, and use a mixture to fill the bottom of your huge planter.
These materials should only be used for people who frequently report because, as stated before, they will degrade with time.
Why Should You Use Fillers For Your Large Planter?
Well, the major purpose of using fillers is to occupy space and permit proper drainage. As I indicated before, the cost of soil is another factor in the use of fillers. Therefore, using filler reduces the soil required, saving you money.
Additionally, since soil weighs a lot, filling a big planter with it makes it heavy and difficult to transport. Therefore, over time, heavy loads may harm decks or balconies.
You can, so to speak, lighten the load by adding filler. Its weight causes the soil to compact. Compression can make soil compact and can have an impact on how well it drains.
Root growth is hampered by dirt that compacts around the roots. It’s also important to note that adding filler facilitates better soil drainage and promotes strong roots.
The use of fillers in the bottom of extra-large outdoor planters also benefits the environment by preventing the disposal of non-biodegradable materials. So it is certainly a win-win situation.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you so now you can easily decide what to put at the bottom of your large planter that will not destroy the plant but let it flourish more. Just make sure to avoid using corn-based peanut packs.