How to Make a Ceramic Water Feature

A ceramic water feature adds dimension and beauty to your landscape or your home. You can easily make a mosaic water feature with bits and pieces of broken ceramics and a terra cotta planter. Look for colorful ceramics you can break at garage sales and thrift stores, or purchase ceramic tiles from your local home improvement store. You can also find fountain pumps at local garden supply stores, but your selection is much better from online retailers. Create a work of art for your home, patio or garden that is also a soothing water feature.

Things You'll Need

• Terra cotta planter
• Ceramics for mosaic
• Plastic bag, towel and hammer
• Thinset
• Trowel
• Exterior grout and grout float
• Grout sealer
• Sponge
• Flat-backed glass cabochons
• Waterproof adhesive
• Fountain pump
• Fountain head
• Plumber's putty

Instructions

1. Place the ceramics or tiles for your mosaic inside a plastic bag. Seal the bag and wrap it in a towel. Tap the ceramic material gently with a hammer to break them into pieces. You can use plates, cups, vases, planters or anything else that appeals to you. Glass is not the best choice for outdoor water features, but you can use flat-backed glass cabochons or marbles in your mosaic design as they are thicker and can withstand the elements.

2. Apply a small section of thinset on the inside of your terra cotta planter with a trowel or with your hands. If you use your hands, be sure and wear disposable gloves to protect your skin. Press your broken ceramics into the thinset. Leave 1/8 to 1/4 inch of space between each of the ceramic bits. Cover the inside of the planter with the ceramic pieces, except for the bottom of the planter. Allow the thinset to dry.

3. Cover the outside perimeter of the terra cotta planter with ceramics, the same way as you covered the inside. Let the adhesive dry.

4. Grout the crevices of your mosaic inside the planter with your hands. It's difficult to maneuver a grout float inside the planter, unless you're making a very large water feature. Remove all of the grout from the ceramic pieces with a wet sponge before the grout dries. Repeat the grouting process on the outside of the planter. Add grout sealer within three days to the mosaic.

5. Turn the planter upside down and add four flat-backed cabochons to the bottom. Select cabochons that are at least 1-inch thick in a color that coordinates with your ceramic pieces. The cabochons are the feet of your water feature and will elevate the planter so the electrical cord from the fountain can fit through the base of the planter. Let the adhesive dry.

6. Stand the planter upright and place the pump inside. Feed the pump's electrical cord through the drainage hole of your planter. Seal around the cord with plumber's putty. Let the putty dry.

7. Attach the fountain head to the fountain and extend it to the rim of the planter. Fill the planter with water and turn on the pump. Adjust the fountain head as necessary for your water feature's desired effect.

References

• Selecting Fountain Pumps

Resources

• Making Mosaics