Build an Outdoor Fountain Out of Flower Pots

Recycle old flower pots into an attractive fountain for your deck or patio. While one large pot or planter can make an attractive miniature water garden, a pair or even a trio of graduated flower pots can add more visual interest and the delight of trickling water sounds.

Flower Pot Fountain - Materials Needed

Two or three flower pots are needed to build a fountain. One needs to be large enough to hold a substantial volume of water as well as a water garden fountain pump. Two plastic mesh baskets, such as those used for planting aquatic plants are needed for support. These should be able to fit upside down in the two larger flower pots easily.

The water garden pump you choose should be for very small volume fountain applications and should have an adjustable nozzle or outlet so the water will not spray everywhere across your patio when you turn it on.

An electric drill may be necessary if the flower pots you choose do not have holes in the bottom. To make things easier, choose ones that do.

Flower Pot Fountain - Construction and Set Up

Setting up a fountain on your deck or patio, or other outdoor area, should be done in the area where you intend the fountain to stay. It is very hard to move a completed fountain. Make sure the location has access to an electrical outlet as the fountain pump will need to be powered unless you attempt using a solar powered model.

Place the largest flower pot on the spot. If it has a hole in the bottom, you will need to plug it up completely. Use some form of sealant and a flat rock or even a piece of plastic or metal to seal the hole.

The fountain pump should go in next, positioned carefully on the bottom so the water outlet tube points straight upward. The intake should be protected with some sort of filter so it does not get jammed with debris.

Put the largest plastic basket upside down over the water garden pump. Cut a hole in the center of the bottom for the upright tube to go through if necessary. Balance the next smallest flower pot on this basket with its hole also over the water tube. Repeat this procedure if you have three flower pots in the outdoor fountain. If the holes at the bottom of each pot are much larger than the upright tube, use sealant to close them off.

For a cascade style fountain where the water just flows and trickles gently over the top of the smallest pot and down into the pots below, cut the upright tube off so it ends inside the top pot. If you want a spray or other pattern of fountain, affix the correct attachment to the top of the plastic tube.

Fill the largest flower pot on the bottom of the outdoor fountain with water and turn on the pump. Continue filling with water as it is sucked upward into the other pots. All three flower pots should be full with water for the fountain to work and look its best.