Hi, I’m a horticultural consultant and today want to give you a list of small indoor plants that don’t need drainage holes such as Fuego Sky Plant and Spanish Moss, which can thrive without soil, or Venus Fly Trap which loves soggy soils. Some plants like Pothos can thrive in a cachepot full of water for years. you may be shocked if I tell you I can grow small succulents in pots without holes with a specific watering practice. To keep these small indoor plants healthy without dehydration or root rot, you must follow the tips which I will tell you in this post. keep reading.
In this article, I will introduce you to 6 small houseplants that you can plant in pots without drainage holes but before diving into it, I want to ensure you know about the importance of drainage in houseplants.
In previous articles, I talked with you about the advantages of planting in a cachepot (Why do some plant pots not have holes?) and told you why some plants can survive in pots without drainage holes (what plants can grow in pots without drainage holes?).
💡 Before Starting to Plant in a Cachepot:
If you want to be successful in your gardening, you should know that almost all plants need drainage and you have to create it even without holes, how? if you don’t know how to do it, before starting to plant I strongly recommend reading the following articles:
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Anyway, if you are knowledgeable about the above issues, let’s find small indoor plants that can thrive in containers without drainage holes. Let’s get going.
Small Indoor Plants that Can Grow in Pots Without Drainage Holes
Small plants are perfect for those who love a greenery house but don’t have enough space. If you are one of those, you should know almost all plants are small when they are young, but most of them get larger and larger and you have to repot and transfer them to the larger pots.
So, to pick up a small indoor plant, you must choose one that has one of the below characteristics:
- Stay small in with age
- Be a slow-growing plant
- Can keep it small by pruning, like Pothos. So, you create new small houseplants with cut foliage.
Here, you will find 5 small indoor plants that not only have one of the above characteristics but can also survive in pots without drainage holes. I will give you tips about caring for these plants including their watering, lighting and fertilizing requirements.
1- Succulents that Don’t Need Drainage
💡 Golden Tip to Grow your Smal succulent healthy in pots without drainage holes:
Succulents can be the best indoor plants that don’t need drainage holes if you water them correctly to avoid soggy soil. They have fresh thick leaves which can store water for drought-like situations. Hence you must water them only when the top soil dries out and only add a little water in every watering rund.
Most indoor succulents are small plants with variegated shapes and colours. Some of the most popular succulents which you can plant in pots without drainage holes are:
- Snake plants
- Aloe vera
Let’s know more about them.
Aloe vera
Scientific name: Aloe vera
As mentioned above it is a succulent that doesn’t need drainage. It also can be considered a small plant that can grow up to 40 cm.
Watering requirements: you should water Aloe vera deeply but infrequently and let the top soil dry out between watering.
Lighting requirements: it needs 6 hours of bright filtered sunlight every day.
Fertilizing requirements: use a liquid 10-40-10 houseplant mixes, or specific fertilizers for succulents every month.
Snake Plant
Scientific name: Dracaena trifasciata
Another indoor succulent that you can find from tall to small varieties. Some of the famous small indoor snake plants that can grow in pots without drainage holes are:
- Birds Nest Sansevieria (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’)
- Sansevieria gracilis
- Sansevieria fischeri
Watering requirements: water it only when the top soil dries out. Avoid overwatering because it hates the soggy soils.
Lighting requirements: this plant prefers a place with bright indirect sunlight, although can thrive in low-light places.
Fertilizing requirements: this plant is native to poor rocky areas hence avoid over-fertilizing. Feeding twice of year in spring and summer with a 10-10-10 fertilizer is enough.
2- Other Indoor Plants that Don’t Need Drainage Holes
Pothos: Can Thrive in Pots Without Holes
Scientific name: Epipremnum pinnatum or E. aureum.
This houseplant is also known as Devil’s Ivy. It can grow up to 10 feet but you can keep it as a small indoor plant by pruning the foliage. It can be a stunning hanging plant in your room or a beautiful climbing indoor plant on your shelf without worrying about drainage holes. I recommend growing it in a Cachepot in water. in this situation, its feeding will be vital. read my other post about the best liquid fertilizer for Pothos.
Watering requirements: let the top soil dry out between watering and avoid over-watering
Lighting requirements: put its pot in a place with bright indirect sunlight.
Fertilizing requirements: fertilize your plant with a half-strength fertilizer monthly.
Spanish Moss: A Small Indoor Plant that Doesn’t Need Drainage Holes.
Scientific name: Tillandsia usneoides
This beautiful hanging plant is a kind of air plant that can grow in pots without drainage holes. It is a slow-growing plant that lets you use it as a small indoor plant too. It prefers humid areas.Spanish Moss can be a perfect choice for those who prefer plants without soil, drainage holes and high-maintenance caring for.
Watering requirements: it thrives in a humid area, you should water it once a week in summer.
Lighting requirements: avoid putting it in direct sunlight. a humid place with bright indirect sunlight is perfect for it.
Fertilizing requirements: fertilize your plant with a High-phosphorus liquid fertilizer every two weeks
Venus Fly Trap: Strange Small Plant
Scientific name: Dionaea muscipula
It is a perfect small plant that can grow in pots without drainage holes because it loves to live in soggy soils. Venus fly traps can grow up to 25 inches and prefer a place with indirect sunlight although can grow in low-light places too. This plant loves you water it with rainwater.
Fuego Sky Plant: Small Sky Plant in Pots Without Holes.
Scientific name: Tillandsia ionantha
A wonderful plant that doesn’t need soil to absorb food and water. Its root system is only to keep it stable on a surface. This plant requires soaking in water to provide its humid needs. Hence, it can be an ideal small plant for planting in pots without drainage holes. This small plant has stunning flowers and prefers to grow in a place with bright, filtered light.
Conclusion
In this article, I showed you 6 small indoor plants that don’t need drainage holes including Aloe vera, Snake Plant, Pothos, Spanish Moss, Venus Fly Trap and Fuego Sky Plant. You can find other succulents that can grow in small pots without holes.
Do you know other small plants that can thrive in a cachepot? Have you ever experienced planting in pots without drainage holes? Please share your experience and ideas with our readers below this page.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.