---
title: "My planters won’t drain as well as I need it to. There are 4 boxes,…"
description: "My planters won’t drain as well as I need it to. There are 4 boxes, about 12x6x22, I’ve drilled 3 1.5” drain holes in them and put mesh circles over it. My…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/fQipaoQNS2SCTJGI4q9l9w/64e2a01d839db71bfa1fa139"
community: "Equipment & Materials"
author: "KareCares"
published: "2023-08-20T23:22:05.406Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/rZPeORzf1puKRBhyR7Pg9zkxabFaA4iJyrWYdzCBOiY/04319571299d4b609ba7a6ea225d7ac1.webp?size=large"
---

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# My planters won’t drain as well as I need it to. There are 4 boxes,…

_Posted by KareCares on 2023-08-20_

My planters won’t drain as well as I need it to. There are 4 boxes, about 12x6x22, I’ve drilled 3 1.5” drain holes in them and put mesh circles over it. My most recent victims were overwatered, again. I followed the app schedule, would snooze after water readings but the bottoms were still too moist when they said I should water.  
I’m in Los Angeles and planting Pentas on my south facing, full sun balcony for hummingbirds and butterflies plus non-toxic for dogs.  
Yesterday I dumped out the soil. no water for 3wks, the meter was at a 4 moisture even after a heat wave for 2 weeks!  
I’m wondering how I can make this work. I got the triangles to put over the holes and the triangle face up like the picture on the plant itself. I don’t feel like it’ll be enough. I’m wondering if I should add a mesh bottom tray, flip it over for height above the holes, add some more triangles under the trays plus the ones in the plant. Would this give them a fighting chance? Thanks in advance 😊

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/rZPeORzf1puKRBhyR7Pg9zkxabFaA4iJyrWYdzCBOiY/04319571299d4b609ba7a6ea225d7ac1.webp?size=large)

## 1 comment

### Roundshouse Plants commented on 2023-08-29

In my deeper planters, I layer the bottom with rocks, sticks, mulch, and whatever I have around, before adding the soil. The roots don't need the full planter be filled with soil. The extra drainage is more important

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