What can I use in the bottom of large outdoor pots for drainage and al

I have used plastic water bottle, cut up styro foam, and even aluminum cans.

Empty water or soda bottles if large container or in smaller pots use packing peanuts, avoid the biodegradable variety,

Packing peanuts

Put empty plastic wat bottles in the bottom then put in you potting soil. The water bottles take up a lot of room without the weight

Empty pop cans, milk jugs, water bottles etc., they work very well and won't be heavy.

broken styrofoam pieces

If you're growing ornamental plants, the plastic and packing peanuts are ok, but I would not trust them if you're growing things like kitchen herbs, tomatoes and other container edibles as they can still leach petrochemicals into the food.

Ping pong balls are safe to use and are practically weightless.

I use empty plant pots, turned upside down, of course. There will be gaps between the pots so I then scrunch up plastic garbage bags and stuff them in the gaps. Sometimes, I then put a folded-up layer of newspaper on top then start covering it with the soil I'm planning to use.

Newspapers! 🌼

Use styrofoam packing peanuts in the lower portion of the pot. Cover the peanuts with weed cloth ( you can purchase this in your garden center.) Or use newspaper. fill the rest of the pot with ppotting soil and plant your plants as usual . You can also use empty plastic beverage bottles instead of the peanuts. Be SURE to punch a drainage hole in the bottom of your pot to allow excess water to drain . If you don't, you will get a pot full of really, REALLY stinky water, and your plants will drown. Good luck! You'll be amazed at how light your pots are using this method.

The plastic popcorn that is usedin shipping boxes.