If you own, you could seal the deck with a protectant to keep it from getting weak. If you rent, ask your management if you can do it. Don't know what to suggest concerning drip trays.

~KraZbuderfly

I don't bother with drip trays - too many plants don't like "wet feet" you can however, do what I did - I got a roll of linolium, cut it to fit my porch, and put my plants on top of that. No drip trays, the water stays away from the wood, and it's a snap to clean up - a broom and a mop is all I need :)

I would think that you could somehow rig up plastic edging to keep the water from running off the edge, and get some sort of drain spout to drain it away to the garden below, though I would think it would be rather visable.

The HydroFarm trays that come from the Quantum system might work for you. These are shallow trays and are not too costly. The deep trays would not be what you want and would probably cost more than you want for what you are doing.

There is already a drain built in that you can attach vinyl tubing to.

There is only one size, but it may just be a good size for you that you can work with.

Either do a search on-line for "Quantum drip system" or else look in the yellow pages for stores listed under "Hydroponics" and call the store and see what just the trays will cost you.

Thanks everyone !!
Liz

Liz - you may want to get some indoor/outdoor carpet to put down on the balcony. Fortunately mine came with that green astroturf and with it being basically plastic (and of course spiky - although it's not the cheap kind with hard plastic "grass"), it has held spills that may have overflowed the saucers. It dries well and is easy to sweep when the debris is dry. Basically this would be in addition to any saucer or other system that you try. It should keep the wood dry. Luckily my balcony is poured concrete but I still have to be very careful with spills that go over the side because many of those here who have stuff out on their balconies, have put their chairs and sofas back up against the rail so that they can face inwards towards the windows and door and thus they can get splashed. ;-)

Home Depot has rolls of indoor and outdoor (and indoor/outdoor) runners in the flooring dept. that they'll cut to length for you and sell by the foot, really cheap. One particularly works great on my balcony -- a black vinyl or rubber (?) 2-ft-wide runner with ridges on it. Without surface texture like astroturf, it doesn't hold onto dirt and leaves, etc., and the ridges guide the water out to the ends and away.

On one side, I also use flat, cheap, plastic window well covers. Also from H. Dpt. I hear they're no good for window wells, but they work great to keep water spilling out and away from both my deck and the downstairs neighbors' stuff!

you might consider adding feet to your planter... just an inch or two would allow your planter to drain and let your porch dry out. plus, it would bring your plants up a little closer to eye level!

I have a drip tray, DRAIN-OFF drip trays, that is round but will fit under any size or shape of pot/planter. You my see at www.PlanterDrainOff.com under Gallery

I always use drip trays and saucers for containers. I do not want water on my floors or surfaces. I get them in various places, not necessarily gardening stores. Have you looked on line? Or in diy or pet stores?

My drip tray at www.PlanterDrainOff.com will accommodate any size Pot/Planter ... drip will not collapse or tilt

My drip tray at www.PlanterDrainOff.com will accommodate any size Pot/Planter ... drip tray will not collapse or tilt