Which bonsai and miniature plants are suitable for placing in the bedroom? Can foam be used as a drainage layer at the bottom of a succulent pot?

Everyone knows that although succulents are quite exquisite and cute, and are also relatively tolerant of drought and poor soil, their ability to withstand water is very poor. If water accumulates in the pot, it can easily cause root rot and kill the plant. So, in our daily care and management process, in addition to watering scientifically, we also recommend making a filter layer or drainage layer at the bottom of the pot to avoid water accumulation in the pot caused by excessive watering.

However, there are many materials that can be used to build a filter layer at the bottom of a flower pot, but their effects are not the same. Some may be used for a relatively long time, while others may be used for a relatively short time. And from the perspective of economy, they are often different too. But the materials we use to make the filter layer are generally not obtained by purchasing, but by using what is available nearby. So, can foam be placed at the bottom of a succulent pot?

Foam is a very light and easily available material, with the characteristics of being soft and brittle in texture, strong in air permeability, and good in water filtration. So, using it as a filter material at the bottom of a pot has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it has strong air permeability and good water filtration, and can play a very good role in ventilation and drainage; the disadvantage is that it is light in weight and both soft and brittle. If the potting soil is too heavy, it is easy to press it into a compacted state and reduce its permeability.

When growing succulents in pots, we also need to consider whether it is suitable to use foam at the bottom of the pot to make a filter layer according to the size of the flower pot, the amount of potting soil used, and the texture of the substrate. If we grow smaller succulents in pots, we can generally use foam to build a filter layer. But if we are potting a certain number of succulents or larger succulents, because the pot used is larger, more soil is used, and the mass of the substrate is also greater, it is easier to press the foam into a compacted state, so it is not suitable to use foam to build a filter layer.

However, for household potted plants, we generally choose succulents with smaller plant types or in smaller quantities to grow. Therefore, it is usually possible to use foam to build a filter layer at the bottom of the pot. Although the potting soil we use to grow succulents is generally a mixed soil prepared from substrates with relatively high density such as coarse sand, vermiculite, and perlite, the flower pot is relatively small and the amount of potting soil used is small, so it generally will not press the foam into a compacted state, at least not in the short term.

However, if we want the filter layer at the bottom of the pot to maintain good water filtration for a long time, it is generally not recommended to use foam to build it. Usually we can use large-particle ceramsite or crushed stone, broken tiles, and similar materials that are relatively hard and difficult to dissolve in water to build the filter layer, and the effect is relatively good. But at the same time, we also recommend repotting the plant regularly to better promote root growth, so we can consider choosing more suitable materials according to the damage to the filter layer to lower the original filter layer.