How to Plug Holes in Ceramic Pots

Ceramic pots are often beautifully decorated and lovely for many uses, both inside and outside of a home. One characteristic of ceramic pots that may present a challenge for some uses is the drainage holes that are typically present at the bottom of the pots. If you are attempting to use a ceramic pot for a purpose that does not use the drainage hole, plug the hole first and then seal it with a special sealing compound to prevent leaks.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ceramic pot
• Clay or cork
• Silicone adhesive
• Plastic gloves

1. Fit a small chunk of clay or a piece of cork to place into the hole in the ceramic pot. If you are using clay, push the clay into the hole and then mold the clay around the top of the hole to form a seal. If you are using cork, the cork must fit the hole tightly to be effective. It may be difficult to find a cork that is the right size to fit the hole.

2. Wearing the plastic gloves, open the tube of silicone adhesive. Squeeze a liberal amount of the adhesive over the clay or around the cork on the inside of the pot. Spread the silicone adhesive so that it seals around all of the edges. Keep the thickness of the silicone adhesive under ¼ inch.

3. Allow the silicone adhesive to dry completely before proceeding with your project. The silicone should be adequately dry within one hour and will cure completely within 24 hours. The amount of humidity in the air will affect the drying time.

Tips & Warnings

• The silicone adhesive should be effective for sealing the hole against water leakage; however, test the seal prior to trusting that it will work.
• Use the silicone adhesive in a well-ventilated area to dissipate any chemical fumes.

References

• Sealing Ceramic Pots
• Silicone Adhesive Information