Pot enhancement

[GreatLakesBrad]

Received a gift from my girlfriend’s (gotta be fiancé soon ) parents for Xmas. Her mother works for a landscape supply company and gets materials at cost (!). Hoffman’s bonsai soil is in their list (small particle size and apparently not the best) ... and apparently so are pots. “Michael Carr Designs” - but made in China?

either way, I received four 12 inch and two 14 inch pots. All glazed to an extent. These are really the first pots I’ve owned as much of my material is in development.

I am incredibly grateful and was a bit embarrassed to receive such a nice gift!

While they seem like great starting pots for future trees, they all have just one drainage hole. I have reviewed the forums here and have purchased a diamond bit set. (https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Granite-Ceramic-Porcelain-Bathroom/dp/B00XAWU14U)

I’d like to add wire/anchor holes and one more drainage hole each depending on how well drilling goes. I’ve seen the higher quality pots with these features.

Am I taking an excessive approach here? Should I be content with the single drainage holes?

 

[Woocash]

Nice gift! Can you have too much drainage? My thoughts would be no. Add to that anchor points which are pretty much a necessity and I think you have your answer.

 

[Schmikah]

I would like to be the first to say the first obvious thing. It depends on the tree.

Trees that love/like wet feet (the only one that comes to mind is bald cypress, only because I have one), probably won't care but only if you are going for the generation of knees. Take this advice with a grain of salt, a very large one, as I have zero experience with larger specimen, other than bald cypress as I have seen them grown in bowls of water. And again, that only happened in sub-tropical climates, which Michigan is not.

My mom has a serissa that I bought her growing in a 8" round pot with a single drainage hole (she insisted that she loved the pot so I have been babying the thing to ensure it gets a good soil/drainage/watering regimen) that has survived so far, but I wouldn't take that as proof by any means.

I would say it would be sad to see you break perfectly good pots trying to drill new holes in them. BUT, if you took a pass at a cheap terracotta you got from Hobby Lobby, lets say, for a few bucks (literally two or three dollars) and made sure you could do it without shattering it (because if you can do it with those junk pots, you can probably do it with any), drill you some good drainage boss.

 

[Schmikah]

Received a gift from my girlfriend’s (gotta be fiancé soon ) parents for Xmas. Her mother works for a landscape supply company and gets materials at cost (!). Hoffman’s bonsai soil is in their list (small particle size and apparently not the best) ... and apparently so are pots. “Michael Carr Designs” - but made in China?

either way, I received four 12 inch and two 14 inch pots. All glazed to an extent. These are really the first pots I’ve owned as much of my material is in development.

I am incredibly grateful and was a bit embarrassed to receive such a nice gift!

While they seem like great starting pots for future trees, they all have just one drainage hole. I have reviewed the forums here and have purchased a diamond bit set. (https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Granite-Ceramic-Porcelain-Bathroom/dp/B00XAWU14U)

I’d like to add wire/anchor holes and one more drainage hole each depending on how well drilling goes. I’ve seen the higher quality pots with these features.

Am I taking an excessive approach here? Should I be content with the single drainage holes?

Other than my previous poor advice, if you don't want to risk either the pots or the bonsai, save them. They still make good pots for house plants that don't need the same level of care (like succulents or cacti).

 

[Tieball]

I don’t think it’s excessive. I do think that the smaller one hole is insufficient...and water will pool where those pot indentations are inside the pot. I also like wire holes. If I had the pots, and like you had the diamond bit set, I’d select my least favorite if all those pots and make that my learning pot for drilling holes. Time to learn if you can do it. Follow recommended procedures....and especially, let the bit do the work without overheating it. Forcing pressure on the bit will crack the pot likely. Time for a fun experiment. Have fun...whether you succeed or not....you’ll have learned something. And, if you do crack the pot....use some of the larger pieces and continue drilling practice. I’d start with smaller wire holes first to get a feel for the process. I like an interesting challenge.

 

[sorce]

I wanna see after pics ...

Don't think we've ever seen any.

Sorce

 

[canoeguide]

I would be looking to drill some additional drainage holes also. I do feel like wiring holes are unnecessary (since you can wire through drainage holes) and I'd skip adding those potentially additional weak points to the pots, but that's only an opinion. If you've not seen it, this article is the best I've seen on how to wire trees in pots with or without wiring holes: https://bonsaitonight.com/2016/12/27/secure-bonsai-pot/

 

[Forsoothe!]

One hole is fine for drainage tropicals, but more holes makes it easier for wiring. Those pots will deteriorate if over-wintering outdoors. Indoors, they're forever. Do all your drilling under water in a pan from the bottom of the pot (upside down) and just let the bit wear its way through. If you know somebody with a drillpress, impose upon them for its use. Wobble is counterproductive. The bits will stay cool and last a while if never run dry which is very hot and destroys the bits very quickly.

 

[Pitoon]

I've drilled out some holes before on some pots with no holes I bought from homedepot. Just a word of advice to make a clean cut on the hole you will need to plug the hole and then make a damn with anything that will hold water. Drill only with water to keep the hole saw cool and to remove the debris. DON'T PUSH ON THE HOLE SAW! Just let it do its thing it may take several minutes but the hole will be clean and you won't crack the pots. Good luck.

 

[Michael P]

Single hole pots will work fine. Just adjust your soil mix to provide more drainage.

 

[Colorado]

Drilling a hole in a pot is not rocket science. You’ll be glad you did.

Just don’t put too much force - as mentioned above - and you’ll be fine.

 

[penumbra]

Single hole pots will work fine. Just adjust your soil mix to provide more drainage

I completely agree. I have planted several dozen bonsai in one hole pots for nearly 50 years.
It is good to know however, and since people like tons of holes I will make pots that way.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

I've drilled out some holes before on some pots with no holes I bought from homedepot. Just a word of advice to make a clean cut on the hole you will need to plug the hole and then make a damn with anything that will hold water. Drill only with water to keep the hole saw cool and to remove the debris. DON'T PUSH ON THE HOLE SAW! Just let it do its thing it may take several minutes but the hole will be clean and you won't crack the pots. Good luck.

Another bit of advice is to provide some support to the opposite side of the hole you are drilling. It will help with "break-out" around the edge of the hole.
Water is your friend. Keeps the bit cool, extend its life (they're not cheap) and washes the cuttings out of the hole as @Pitoon mentions.
Been there, done it!

 

[W3rk]

Another bit of advice is to provide some support to the opposite side of the hole you are drilling. It will help with "break-out" around the edge of the hole.
Water is your friend. Keeps the bit cool, extend its life (they're not cheap) and washes the cuttings out of the hole as @Pitoon mentions.
Been there, done it!

Yup. Similar advice. I used some cheap drill bits on some small pottery lacking holes this past summer. My tips:

Support the other side - something like sand or potting soil.
Use masking/painters tape on the opposite side - this can help limit chipping/cracking along with the above.
And as others stated, liberal water for the drill bit.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Thanks all as always. Will use the technique guidance from you all and attempt once the bits come in from Mr. Bezos.

@sorce - will post 'after' pics for better or worse. Maybe I'll try drilling a golf ball in anger should it go poorly.

@Tieball let's hope it stays in one piece, if not love your idea of practicing further!

Just spent 2 more hours on this site, can't get enough - ordered myself a rounded concave cutter from Kaneshin. Hoping the black steel doesn't catch too much rust here in Michigan.

 

[Forsoothe!]

You don't have to support the backside of the hole if you are using the boring bits which are much different from drill bits which always explode thru the farside leaving cracks radiating outward. As long as you are doing it under water, it's easy.

 

[vp999]

I drilled some of my pots this year also for the first time, piece of cake and very quick. I keep the top side wet and starts at an angle so it will have an initial score mark to hold the drill bit in place better and not move around. I didn't support the backside with anything, I just flip the pot over the grass and drill. The drill bits I used is in the link below. Good luck!

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWA6MXO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[penumbra]

I have drilled many many pots over the years, but these were pottery pieces without holes. Only had difficulty with porcelain pots which finally worked but annihilated the tile bits.
I have never had a problem with a pot that had only one hole but I suppose if you are uncertain about your potting mix or unsure of your watering techniques, the extra holes may help you.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

After pics: finally got around to drilling. Diamond bits as noted earlier in this thread from amazon (drilax). First try on a small 8 inch pot.

Went great! Submerged in water to keep bit cool, on top of a piece of wood in the bin to hold water. Slow and steady.

Happy with the results... drainage/wiring holes. Will now look at better positioning ... these pots aren’t anything special but I think it will improve them. They have lower areas where the feet are where I was concerned about water collecting. Any feedback appreciated.

Thanks for the guidance! @sorce @Tieball

Note: the large hole was included, the four smaller ones are those that were drilled.

 

[penumbra]

Did you intend to drill the holes through the pot's feet?