How To Prevent Indoor Plants From Leaking Water?

Watering is a very important process in the life of indoor plants. If you water your indoor plant too little, it will die off. If you water your indoor plant too much, it will also die off. How to make sure that the water goes into the soil and not on the floor? There are several tricks to prevent leaking, which we have summarized for you below:

how to prevent indoor plants from leaking water
  • Pour approx. 100 ml of sand or gravel into a plastic bag, tie it up, and place it at the bottom of the pot (next to the stem). The sand will ensure good drainage and significantly reduce leakage problems!
  • Place a layer of horticultural charcoal in the bottom of the pot. Horticultural charcoal will increase air circulation, ensure good drainage and reduce leakage problems!
  • Fill the water reservoir with approx. 50 ml of vinegar or cooking oil (with a diameter larger than the hole in the reservoir). This will prevent leakage at the hole because it will obstruct water from flowing out. This trick is especially useful when using a large container without a drainage hole or if you want to place your plant on an absorbent surface where leakage could damage furniture or floors.
  • For leaking through holes, place 4-5 layers of newspaper under the soil and moisten them with baking soda. Afterward place 2-3 layers of on top again and moisten them with vinegar. Remove and dry out the newspaper after a few weeks. This will create a strong crust at the bottom of your pot, which prevents water from leaking through holes.
  • Place a coffee filter in the drainage hole, this will prevent leakage while allowing air and water to pass through. For small holes you can also simply place some of the soil that is left over from when you filled up your pot on top of the drainage hole.

Here is the answer to How To Fix Hard Water For Plants?

use ice to prevent indoor plants from leaking water

If you pour ice cubes on top of the soil, it will cool down the root zone and reduce water evaporation.

use a self-watering system for indoor plants

Self-watering systems are an easy and very efficient way to prevent leakage. The pot has two compartments: one for the plant and one with a wick which draws up water from the bottom reservoir. The wick is constructed in such a way that as soon as it absorbs water, it expands like a sponge. In this manner, there is always enough water contained in the wick even if your plant only takes up little water at once (e.g., when taking up lots of nutrients). You fill up both compartments with approx. 50 ml of water per week.

use pots without drainage holes to prevent water leakage

Empty pots are also a good way to prevent leakage. You can place them on absorbent surfaces such as newspaper, cardboard or potting mix; so that the water will be absorbed and evaporate more slowly.

Warnings: Do not cover the drainage hole with decorative rocks or gravel. This will cause excess soil crusting and inhibits aeration in the root zone, which could damage your plant!

Plastic bags should not come into contact with soil, because this deprives your plants of oxygen (aerobic respiration), something they do need!

If you use an oil-filled coffee filter at the bottom of the pot, then make sure that it is large enough to cover at least 2/3 of the circumference of the pot and that it is not folded over, because this will restrict the airflow!

  • Place some broken pieces of crockery in both pots – this way you can be sure that even if so much water leaks that it reaches the bottom of the pot, it will not be enough to flood your floor!
  • Use pots with an overflow opening (e.g., the plant pot # 55 of our online shop) – when overfilled, water flows out of this opening and into a saucer placed underneath, which is later emptied.
  • Cover the bottom of your plant pot with sphagnum moss or polystyrene balls for good drainage this also reduces leakage significantly.
  • When watering, make sure that you pour some water in the corners at the bottom of your pot: The roots grow there first and only then towards the upper soil layer. If these areas are dry and do not contain any moisture because there is too much water in the pot, then the roots cannot grow to the top and your plant will die off.
  • Do not water your indoor plants too much this can cause root rot! If you do want to fertilize your plant, please use special fertilizer for plants once a month. For more information on how to fertilize indoor plants, please visit our blog:

I am an avid plant enthusiast and horticulture aficionado with a deep passion for houseplants. With years of nurturing green companions, my expertise in caring for indoor foliage is well-rooted. Through my journey, I've cultivated insights into optimal plant care, propagation techniques, and creating vibrant indoor ecosystems. Join me as we explore the verdant world of houseplants together. Let's turn your living space into a thriving oasis of botanical beauty. Connect with me on admin@houseplantspro.com and Facebook and explore more at Houseplantspro. 🌿🪴