do bonsai pots need drainage holes

If you are a new lover of Bonsai and want to know different things about Bonsai. Then one main question which you should have in your mind is DO BONSAI POTS NEED DRAINAGE HOLES? because if you really don't know about Bonsai than you most probably consider it as an indoor plant because of its size and beautiful appearance because this kind of plant can give your home a glamorous look and also make a clean and soothing indoor environment.

But actually, Bonsai is just like any other plant and it needs all of the things which can be essential for any other plant. like water, sunlight, proper soil, and of course drainage hole in its pot.Because if Bonsai don't have a drainage hole it can cause damage to Bonsai tree roots like any other plant due to excess accumulation of water.The larger the drainage hole, the more beneficial to the growth of the plant. This is to avoid the accumulation of water in the potted soil. If it doesn't come out, the root system of the plant is easy to rot.
But if Bonsai pot has a big drainage hole than how can I keep it indoor if it continuously leaks water and of course soil with it? because leaking soil will make a mess inside the house.

The water leaking after the bonsai was put on the pot showed that there were two problems that were not dealt with when the pot was put on the ground: one was that the gap left by the drain hole at the bottom of the pot was too large, and the second was that the soil on the pot was not implemented.

For the sake of shape and overall appearance, many pots are shallow pots. Some shallow pots are not very stable when planting plants, and the drainage holes are much larger than those of conventional flower pots. I have encountered this kind of situation once and put it on a bonsai shelf to maintain it. When there is rain or water, there will be mud on the table, which even affects the appearance.

Is there any way to make the drainage and permeability of potting soil better? 
Yes there is a way and that is covering of drainage holes of Bonsai tree pot.
 In fact, the following materials can be used to cushion the bottom of the flower pot. 

COVERING OF DRAINAGE HOLES

1.GAUZE

 The gauze can be replaced with a wire mesh. In fact, a mesh is placed on the bottom of the Bonsai tree pot, and then some soil can be laid. The wire mesh can prevent the soil from clogging the drainage holes

Usually when we maintain Bonsai tree the bottom of the pot is covered with this layer of net, which is a very common gardening technique.

2.CERAMSITE

ceramsite is a kind of, particularly breathable and loose material. its particles are large or small, depending on your choice. ceramsite have many pores that are more useful in absorbing water, increasing soil permeability and drainage.

They can be on the surface of the soil or at the bottom of the pot, which can keep the soil loose and breathable, which is conducive to better drainage of the soil, allows the roots of the Bonsai tree to ventilate and has a better effect on plant growth.

3.FOAM BOARD

Foam board is usually used as a buffer layer. Many electrical appliances will use foam board during transportation. The foam board can be placed on the bottom of 

the flower pot, but it is a very lightweight if it is broken into pieces The material can be properly mixed into the soil when cultivating flowers, or it can be placed on the bottom of the flower pot, but its disadvantage is that it has no nutrients and should not be used alone to grow flowers.

If you want hydroponic cutting plants, you can also use a foam board, poke hole in the foam board, then insert the branches in the holes, and then float on the water surface, to avoid the branches from being completely immersed in the water.

4.COFFEE FILTER PAPER

Coffee filter paper is also a very good material. It has very good air permeability and drainage. It is usually used to filter out the residue, but it can be placed on the bottom of the flower pot, which can maintain good drainage and avoid soil. Block the drain.

Coffee filter paper is also very simple to use. After preparing a suitable size flowerpot, pad the coffee filter paper on the bottom of the pot and the edge of the flower pot, and then spread the soil.

5.BROKEN TILES OR POTTERY

Usually, we have some red pottery pots were broken, you can break them into pieces, these pieces can be placed in the drainage hole at the bottom of the flower pot, and appropriate padding can avoid the pothole soil blocking the drainage hole and enhance the drainage of the flower pot Breathability.

Bonsai plants have skill in filling the soil when they are potted. If they are not filled well, they will sink a few centimeters as soon as they are watered. This is because when the root system blocks the fill, some of the lower part is empty or the filled soil is less loose. In this case, when filling the pot, you can fill a portion of the soil and pat the pot with your hand to allow the soil to sink naturally and the root system to fit tightly. You can also combine branches or chopsticks to compact some down the inner wall of the basin, and do not directly press the root to prevent root injury. After the basin is filled with water, generally the soil of the basin will sink a little. If it sinks, add some soil.

By using one of these above-mentioned procedures, there will be no leakage of soil and you can easily use your Bonsai tree even inside your home very safely and increase the beauty and elegance of your HOME SWEET HOME.