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Me personally i find the plastic ones more easy to manage re the the filling of large containers but most importantly the ease of which these can be moved safely. Here's what i do regarding maples in containers, the majority of my potted out maples are all in black plastic containers ranging from 10 litre up to 200 litre but he average size of most is 45 litre, i only have two maples which are in earthenware/clay pots this is mainly due to the cost of potting out maples into expensive ceramics. I don't use rocks, clay shards or whatever in the bottom of pots anymore but I do cut a circle of landscape fabric instead to try and prevent soil from clogging the drainage holes or letting dirty water pool out on the deck. Rather than try to protect your trees from the rain falling on them, I'd get rid of at least some of the drainage material, drill a few more holes and put feet under the pots as Acerholic suggested. Obviously the water will not be blocked completely and root rot will not occur within an hour or two. That can be determined by observing how fast water is coming out the bottoms and also by lifting the pots to see how heavy they feel. Where Japanese maples are concerned, the most important thing is that the pots are draining quickly enough during times of heavy rain. The water will drain out, but more slowly, especially if there is just one hole in the bottom of the pot. As Robert Pavlis notes on his Garden Myths website, Does Gravel at the Bottom of a Pot Help Drainage? - Garden Myths, "When water reaches the interface between two different types of soil – it stops moving." In other words, it impedes drainage rather than enhancing it. Also it is important to check weather forecasts to ensure you do not soak your trees the day before the heavens open.ĭo come back if you are not happy with what I've suggested, or want more advice.Ĭlick to expand.Current thinking about the use of drainage materials in the bottom of pots strongly suggests that it is not a good idea. The rule of thumb is, if dry water and if moist or wet do not. So I still feel that you should raise your pots on feet as soon as possible and do not consider watering them until you have checked that the compost they are in feels dry. You would ensure though that you have prepared the ground correctly to ensure they do not sit for long periods in water. Planted in the ground, you would not go out and cover them up. They can handle plenty of Summer downpours as long as the water can drain freely. To your next question, the answer is my first reply. That is what you must recreate with your pots. Look at where these trees do well in Japan, they are on a shale like substrate that although they have very wet Summers and Winters the water drains very quickly.
#PROTECT POTTED PLANTS FROM HEAVY RAIN FREE#
It must be a loose free draining compost that is IMO very close to an Alpine mix. You are right in that the substrate is correct for the plant and in this case Japanese maples.