Can I just fill a 14 gallon rubbermaid with soil?

I'm having a heck of a time trying to find a drip tray for a 14 gallon rubbermaid container before I drill holes in it for drainage. The question is, what do drainage holes do other than allowing the extra water left in the catch tray to be absorbed over time? Can I get away without putting drainage holes in my rubbermaid and just let it thoroughly dry out in between waterings?

I would recommend highly against not having drain holes. The soil will definitely not dry out properly, and you're asking for root rot/mold.

Not only do holes allow excess water to drain and not pool, it also allows airflow and breathing through the bottom of the pot.

-spek

ps. A cookie sheet or similar may be enough to put under the bin.

Your going to severely regret not putting in drainage holes, sure I guess if you like to keep your roots in wet soggy conditions.

I can smell the bud rot from here, whew 14 gallons worth of it, ouchie.............

Do it how spek tells you.

Drainage is the key!

giggles26 said:

I can smell the bud rot from here, whew 14 gallons worth of it, ouchie.............

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LOL. This is what I originally meant, but with far less words

-spek

Highocaine said:

Do it hempy style with just one hole pretty close to the bottom.. Maybe 1". Then fit a drain (barb x barb fitting) into it with a grommet, attach tubing. 'course then you have to elevate it a bit, but you can use anything that holds liquid as a drip tray.

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You do understand that "Hempy style" is actually a hydroponic grow and not soil, right? The OP is talking about soil here. A Hempy bucket contains 2/3 perlite and 1/3 vermiculite (ie. no soil), with the 3/8 inch hole approximately 2" above the bottom of the 'bucket'.

I don't want to confuse the OP at all. He seems to be growing in soil, so for a pot that big (which seems hugely overkill for a Hempy), absolutely drill some holes, at least 5/8-3/4, and lots of them.

just sayin'

-spek

Not to mention you'll never get any runoff and if you overwater your fooked

O...kay, disregard me then, I'm obviously a blathering idiot.

Thanks everybody! I was just trying to cut some corners if I could. I know good advice when I hear it and I'll drill some holes here soon. The cookie sheet idea is a good one! BTW I have 6 plants in the 14 gallon rubbermaid. I'm going to veg for 1-2 week and then go 12/12 and kill the males. I'm going to keep them relatively small and LST as I only have 20" of vertical growing room, but plenty of lateral growing room.

so your growing 6 plant in one container of soil? This should be interesting to see how it turns out. Personally i think your headed right into a bunch of issues but I suppose only time will tell

HankDank said:

.... only time will tell

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it usually does.

Growing several plants in there is fine. Its basically a soil bed. Drill some hole along the bottom and the lower side. Use the rubbermaid lid as a saucer.

Maybe no one thought of this but just incase make sure your Rubbermaid container is not the clear kind or you will sun damage your roots and potentially kill your plant.
Good Luck on your grow!

Im using a 9 Gal rubbermaid. I have BIG holes cut on the bottom, just like on any square potting container you see in any garden center. Im only using it because I wanted to play around and grow a single monster under my new 600w hps bloom tent set up. Works good and growth rate is alot more than Im used too,lol. Im at day 15 since flip to 12/12

yeah, i'm pretty unpretentious myself. I've done 4 successful grows in miracle grow (gasp)

can u say root rot