Smart pots in saucers vs smart pots on elevated platforms w/ catch underneath

[nice fella]

Why do people go through the effort of an elevated platform when you could just let the runoff go into a saucer and wet vac it out?

Feels like a waste of vertical space no?

(Noob question not asking aggressively)

EDIT: This is for coco btw.

 

[unregistered190]

I do it to make sure they never sit in water

 

[troutman]

Maybe using saucers with at least 1/2 inch of gravel in them. Put the pot on the gravel.

This way they don't sit in water all the time and the runoff can be easily taken away if needed.

 

[Fixer]

The stands not only keep the plants from reabsorbing the run off but it makes it easier to check the EC of the run off and If you so inclined you can also measure the volume of run off to make sure you flushing the extra salts out of the coco.