What to put at the bottom of plant pots?

[Sian]

I've run out of broken crockery, and I had a lot of it.. the joys of container gardening!

I saw on 101 uses that someone suggested wine corks. So I'll start saving them, but I'm not a complete alcoholic, so any other ideas?

[MKG]

Polystyrene chips work well (and what else could you do with 'em?)

[ina]

Corks and polystyrene are fine - as long as it doesn't matter that the pots then get a bit lighter... Might be a problem if you live in a very windy area.

Gravel? Any small stones? Large shells from the beach?

[Ellendra]

I've used flattened soda cans, styrofoam packing peanuts, or a worn-out nylon scrubby thingy.

[Thomzo]

I keep all the polystyrene packing, break it up and use that. As Ina says, the pots are lighter but that's good if you want to move them around.

The lids of plastic bottles. I think I got that idea off this site ages ago.

I've used twigs or bark before now. I would only recommend this for pots that you are going to replant after a season.

Zoe

[Millymollymandy]

When I used to live in London I used to go home after weekends at my mum's with bags full of stones from her garden!!!

These days I can't give my stones away!!!

[mybarnconversion]

corks ... great idea - never know what to do with them...

I just use broken pots at the mo.

[Christine]

I've resorted to a piece of screwed up newspaper (well, old Thomsons directory, actually). It takes a while for the water to drain out of the bottom but that can be an advantage if you can manage the watering. The other thing I've used is a scrap of old weed suppressant or fleece when the sheet is otherwise unusable. You need one stone or similar to lift it off the bottom of the pot, though.

[Beek]

Teabags. Dry them on the windosill after first use. Hoard them. They're porous, organic-ish, and biodegradable.

[andyt]

Toe-nail clippings?

[Christine]

Toe-nail clippings?

Dear Lord! how long would that take? or is there something you're not sharing with us?

[Andy Hamilton]

I use stones from the garden when I run out of crocks. The trick is to have a really tiny kitchen so you can't help but break things!

You could ask in your local charity shop if they could keep back any broken plates they have or I am sure your freecycle group would have people who would happily give away some broken crocks.

[John Headstrong]

bathroom tiles, from the bathroom I am striping out.

[Wombat]

The lids out of tin cans, bent in the middle!

Nev

Toenails.......

[Christine]

tin can lids - now that sounds like an excellent use - provided you remember which pots have the sharp edges when it comes to empty them!