Drainage holes are like lungs for your pots. They let extra water escape and allow air to move through the soil. After heavy rain or a deep watering session, those holes can get blocked with mud, roots, or small stones.
If water can’t escape, roots sit in a soggy mess for too long. Most plants hate that. Leaves start yellowing, stems soften, and eventually the roots rot. From the outside, it just looks like a sad plant and you might think it needs more water, which makes things worse.
Taking a moment now and then to lift pots gently (if possible) and see if water is actually dripping through, or to poke the holes from the side with a stick, keeps things flowing.
It’s a small maintenance habit that protects your plants from an invisible enemy: trapped water sitting deep in the pot where you can’t see it.
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