Drainage Material or Soil to the Bottom?

[Tcnchw]

Hello,
I'm on my second grow. The first go was not particularly planned and I tried to complete everything "correctly" and mostly recycled/on the cheaper side. For this reason I'm growing in 5 gallon buckets (home depot style). When I was planning to repot my seedlings I had a ton of small glass spice bottles and decided to line the bottom of my buckets with them. I placed them all top down with no tops in the bottom of my buckets before adding soil.

I'm moving on to my third grow and
now think I may be using too much space in my pots with the glass and was wondering if all you soil growers have soil to the bottom or if you have good results with rocks/sand or other materials.

Thank you in advance for any insight! I have already answered many questions and found a wealth of knowledge using this forum.

 

[mysticepipedon]

I start with a layer of soil, followed by soil. Then I think to myself, "Is that enough soil?" If not, I add more. No quick-drain materials at all.

 

[Tcnchw]

I start with a layer of soil, followed by soil. Then I think to myself, "Is that enough soil?" If not, I add more. No quick-drain materials at all.

Thanks for the response! I think I'll try this method.

 

[mysticepipedon]

Your soil mix has plenty of perlite or other similar material, right? If so, you should have no problem.

 

[Tcnchw]

Your soil mix has plenty of perlite or other similar material, right? If so, you should have no problem.

Yes, I'm using roots organic soil.

 

[Tcnchw]

Thanks for the responses! I know it's more of an elementary question. Y'all are great!

 

[Madbud]

Spice bottles?! Just how high do you get? I use a layer of gravel covered with garden cloth.

 

[Aqua Man]

Someone posted this before and I thought it was great.

 

[euphoria526]

I always do a thing layer of perlite on the bottom to help any issues. Not sure if I’ve had issue because it’s worked lol

 

[Tcnchw]

Someone posted this before and I thought it was great.

Thanks!
She is smarter, or more informed, than she leads on.

 

[mysticepipedon]

Someone posted this before and I thought it was great.

I especially like that she includes soil scientists in the same category as neurosurgeons.