Frequently Asked Questions
And Installation Tips

General Questions:

Can the Pot Drain^® Flange and Plant Aqueduct^™ stop mosquitos breeding in pot saucers, helping prevent the spread of West Nile virus and other diseases?
Yes. Pot Drain^® Flange and Plant Aqueduct^™ replace pot saucers and drain pots, eliminating the standing water that can be a fertile breeding environment for disease carrying mosquitos.

What is the difference between the one and two hole flanges?
The one hole flange drains pots. The two hole flange drains pots and routes the drip irrigation feeder line through the pot drain hole via the flange's second hole.

Should I elevate my pots?
Yes! We recommend that you elevate your pots at least 1 1/2” above the supporting surface of the deck or patio. This allows enough space for the drain tube to turn 90º to drain excess pot water to the side, or to be easily placed between the deck planks. Many pot feet elevate the pot 1 1/2”, allowing plenty of space between the bottom of the pot and the elevating surface.

Can I use my own tubing to connect to the flange?
No. The Pottery Trainer tube is a special tube. It is designed to be self cleaning, drain a large volume of water and fit water tight to the flange.

Is peel & stick tape or polyurethane caulk better to adhere flanges to pots?
Both are excellent. Choose the method that best fits your needs. See To Install page for instructions.

Which flange drains and connects to a drip irrigation system?
The double hole flange both drains and connects to your drip irrigation system.

I want to drain some of my pots into a common drain tube and let the run-off nourish other plants. What do I need?
You need additional drain tubing and insert fittings ( tees & elbows) to link your pots' drain tubes to a common drain tube.

Does the drain tube ever plug up?
Rarely. If it does, detach the drain tube until the trapped water drains, then reattach the tube.

Do the Pot Drain^® Flange and Plant Aqueduct^™ require much maintenance?
No. Just check pots periodically for proper drainage.

Can I buy the Pot Drain^® Flange and Plant Aqueduct^™ at my local store?
We have some dealers in California and Nevada. Check our list of retail dealers for more information.

Installation Tips:

Improve Drainage Before Planting...
1. Install Pot Drain^® flange to pot.

2. Place a 1"– 2" layer of rocks that are about 1" in size in the bottom of the pot before adding potting soil. Do not use smaller stones or pebbles, as they may clog the flange drain hole.

3. Add potting soil and plant.

4. Generously water the newly planted pot to flush loose soil out the flange drain hole. Repeat until water draining is mostly free of soil particles.

5. Attach drain tubing to flange hole. Water again to check that water drains freely through flange and tubing.

Drain Tube...
Elevate your pot at least 1 1/2”. If it is a hot day, put the drain tube in the shade before installation. In the sun, the drain tube becomes very soft. The drain tube may be placed between deck planks, or to the side of the pot on decks or patios, in order to drain water away.

If the deck planks are very close together, you may want to place the drain tube between the deck planks first and then lower the pot over the drain tube. Insert the drain tube into the flange's drain hole. Reposition the drain tube to eliminate any kinks, or reduce buckling in the drain tube to improve drainage. If the space between planks is too narrow for the tube, enlarge the space with a drill, or just place the tube to the side.

Feeder Hole...
The feeder hole in the double hole flange is designed to adapt to a wide range of feeder lines. However, if you have trouble inserting your feeder line into the flange's feeder line hole, follow these instructions to enlarge the hole:

1. Once you have installed a peel-and-stick taped flange on the pot, you can proceed immediately to enlarging the feeder line hole. If you use polyurethane to adhere the flange to the pot, wait over night before enlarging the hole.

2. To enlarge the feeder line hole use a sharp object, like a knife, working from the “boss” side of the flange–the side that protrudes into the pot. Rotate the sharp object one to two times, until the feeder line just passes into the flange but is snug enough to the flange to be watertight.