How2Day: Plants for Pots Without Drainage Holes

Calla lilies thrive in moist soil environments. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
It's often tricky to grow plants in pots without drainage holes, as most plants thrive in well-drained soil. However, there are many plants that require moist, wet soils to standing shallow water like marginal aquatic plants. Grown in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors, plants that flourish in moist soil tolerate different amounts of water.

Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is not a true lily, rather a member of the arum, or jack-in-the-pulpit family. Calla lily grows in clumps 2 to 3 feet tall and features arrow-shaped foliage that is shiny. It bears large, white aroid flowers with a central yellow spadix. The flowers on calla lilies grow 3 to 10 inches wide. Calla lilies thrive in containers with rich soil and 2 inches of water. They grow best in full sun to part shade and may need to be brought indoors to overwinter. Grow calla lily in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 to 11.

Rainbow plant (Houttuynia cordata), also called chameleon plant, is a water garden plant that prefers moist soil to shallow water, around 1 to 2 inches deep, creating an ideal plant to grow in a pot without drainage holes. It grows 6 to 20 inches tall and has a creeping habit. It bears heart-shaped, broad to ovate leaves that are blue to green. Each leaf on the rainbow plant is edged in red to complement the red stems. Rainbow plants also have a strong pungent orange smell. They grow best in full sun and have the possibility of becoming invasive. Grow rainbow plant in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 to 10.

Dwarf elephant's ear (Colocasia affinis var. jenningsii) is a type of elephant's ear with a clumping growth habit. Low-growing, it grows 1 to 3 feet tall and wide and bears dark green, velvety foliage with an oversized silvery central spot in the middle of each leaf. It also features a prominent green vein that helps to create a contrasting display to the foliage. Dwarf elephant's ear grows best in full to part shade and humus-rich soil that is moist to wet. Grow dwarf elephant's ear in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 11.

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