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Should I put slate chippings in bottom of pot?

kelbel8888kelbel8888 Posts: 14
in Tools and techniques
Hi,
I am potting a bamboo, and have put slate chippings for drainage at the booth. After the first watering the water just sat on the top like a puddle. I had a quick google as worried chippings was not ideal- but didn’t have any gravel about. But now it seems people don’t bother putting anything in the bottom as does more harm than good? Any thoughts?
Shall i unpot the bamboo to remove the slate? Or leave it be? Thanks 

Posts

  • kelbel8888kelbel8888 Posts: 14

  • kelbel8888kelbel8888 Posts: 14
    This morning 
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 888
    Bamboos are very thirsty plants so I would leave them but keep an eye on the pot. I’ve found that with new compost the first watering can sometimes sit for a while before it drains through.  If the compost stays water- logged and feels very wet after been left unwatered for a while then you’ll know that the chippings aren’t helping but I would be surprised if they caused that much of a problem.
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • kelbel8888kelbel8888 Posts: 14
    Thanks for the reply. Yes the water seemed to sit for ever on top on the pot and I couldn’t see it run out the bottom so wondered if I’d made a mistake, and if to pull it out before it gets compacted . Il leave it for a few days and see what happens 
  • Bright starBright star Posts: 1,152
    You may find this video by Bunny Guinness helpful.

    https://youtu.be/plFyeMAmdUg
    Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.

  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 942
    Sometimes the compost can form a crust, and the water takes ages to sink.
    It can help to break up the top layer with your fingers before watering.
    Sunny Dundee
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