How to Create a Clay Pot Fountain

For a calming outdoor treat, make your own spa-like sanctuary with little effort. Add an elegant water feature to your garden, porch or deck with this craft project. Use a large clay flower pot and a few inexpensive supplies to create this water fountain in about an hour.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clay pot
• Cork (wine bottle size)
• Electric fountain kit
• 5 lbs. pebbles or gravel

1. Check your local garden supply store for a large clay flower pot, 16 to 20 inches in diameter and approximately 12 inches high. Select a pot that is sealed inside with a glaze, which reduces the likelihood of leaks or future cracks. Choose a color that compliments your outdoor room.

2. Purchase an electric fountain kit. This is the easiest, most inexpensive way to get the supplies you’ll need to create your project. If you purchase pieces individually, you need an electric submersible water pump (150 to 200 gallons per hour), foam filter and a fountain spout.

3. Choose a level spot to set up your fountain, either on a deck/porch or in a garden (as long as it is close enough to a power supply).

4. Plug drainage hole in the pot base with a wine cork. This makes the pot water tight.

5. Rinse the pebbles or gravel well under a garden hose to remove dirt and debris. Pour pebbles into pot. Save about 2 cups for later.

6. Place the pump atop the level gravel/pebble base. Set the pump inside the sponge filter.

7. Fill the pot with water. Fill to about 3 inches from the top of the pot.

8. Plug the electrical pump into a secure outdoor outlet.

9. Attach the fountain spout to the top of the pump. Adjust the settings so that the water is slightly higher than the pot. Also adjust the diameter of the bell (water spray formation). This is your preference for a wide or narrow spray and variation in sound. Experiment with options to find a spray that suits you.

Tips & Warnings

• If the filter and pump do not stay upright on their own, nestle the additional 2 cups of pebbles on top of the filter to hold it in place. This hides the filter as well as stabilizes the unit. Alternately, you could use a medium-sized rock.
• Standing, stagnant water attracts mosquitoes, so change the water in your fountain regularly and empty it when not being used for a few days.
• Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of bleach to the water fountain once per week to help prevent algae formation if your fountain is in direct sun. Avoid bleach if you have pets that could drink from the pot, however.

[troglodyte42]

on 6/18/2009 To avoid breeding mosquitos, put a mosquito dunk in your fountain. They are available in the pesticides area at most home improvement centers and hardware stores. As you may know, besides being annoying, mosquitos may carry encephalitis.
Bleach, at a safe concentration, won't stop mosquitos from thriving!