How to Build a Bamboo Fountain With a Terra Cotta Pot

Turn ordinary pots into bamboo fountain rock gardens.

Evoking the serenity of a Japanese garden, a bamboo fountain in a terra cotta pot will create a distinctive accent to any home's exterior landscape. Bamboo fountains can adorn your own patio or can be given as gifts to friends and family. With a few basic materials, the limitless possibilities for rock arrangement and for the design of your fountain will allow you to be creative and to show off your artistic abilities.

Things You'll Need

• 2- to 2-1/2-inch diameter bamboo pole
• Miter saw or hacksaw
• 600-grit sandpaper
• 3/4-inch diameter bamboo pole
• Wire
• Large terra cotta pot
• Fountain pump with tubing
• Plumber's putty
• Putty knife
• Scissors
• Rocks
• Rock garden plants (optional)

Instructions

1. Create a bamboo spout haft. Use a miter saw or a hacksaw to cut a two- to two-and-a-half-inch diameter bamboo pole to a 15- to 16-inch length. Using a three-quarter-inch auger or step drill bit, drill a hole one to two inches down from one end of the shaft. This is where the spout will go. Sand any rough edges left from cutting with 600-grit sandpaper.

2. Create a bamboo spout. Cut a three-quarter-inch diameter bamboo pole to a one-and-a-half to two-inch length. Cut one end at a 45-degree angle. Sand any rough edges. Attach the spout to the shaft. Place a bead of outdoor wood glue around the inside of the drilled hole and insert the spout into the hole with the 45-degree angle sticking out and down.

3. Cut cross supports from three-quarter-inch bamboo. When secured perpendicularly to the shaft, these supports will rest on the top edge of the pot and will hold up the shaft and spout. Cut two supports to be four inches longer than the diameter of the pot's opening. Sand any rough edges.

4. Secure the cross supports halfway down the shaft. Place them horizontally, centered on either side of the shaft. Secure them in place by lashing wire tightly around the intersection of the shaft and supports. Lash wire by weaving over, under and around the shaft and supports until they are firmly joined. Secure the wire by twisting the ends together.

5. Set a fountain pump in the bottom of the pot. Run the cord through the drain hole. Use plumber's putty to plug the drain hole around the cord to prevent water from escaping. Use a putty knife to fill the hole and allow it to set up according to the dry time indicated in the instructions.

6. Run the plastic tubing for the pump through the spout and down the shaft. Rest the cross supports on the top edge of the pot. Attach the tubing to the pump spout. Use scissors to cut off any excess tubing sticking out of the bamboo spout.

7. Fill the pot one-half to three-quarters full with foam packing peanuts. This will fill space and keep your fountain from becoming too heavy.

8. Arrange rocks on top of the foam peanuts and around the shaft. Use any types of rocks you wish. Use large rocks, pebbles, river rocks or a combination. Use multi-colored rocks or keep it minimal and use all one color of rocks. Optionally, rock garden plants can also be added.

9. Fill the pot with water and plug it in.

References

• Bamboo Accents: Turn Any Container Into an Exciting Fountain
• V.I. Reed and Crane, Inc.: Bamboo Fountains