How to Build an Outdoor Water Feature

A large Shishi Odoshi or "deer chaser" bamboo spout.

You can build an outdoor water feature with a pre-assembled bamboo spout. Smaller bamboo water features allow water to spill from the spout into a bowl. Larger bamboo water features may have water spilling from the spout first into a bowl and into a small pond. Install a water pump and the bamboo spout onto a colorful bowl filled with the aquatic plants of your choice to make your own outdoor water feature.

Things You'll Need

• 30-inch diameter glazed and sealed bowl
• Small river rocks
• Plastic tubing
• Water pump
• Aquatic plants (yellow lotus, umbrella, water primrose)
• 18-inch pre-assembled bamboo spout (two horizontal bamboo poles holding a vertical spout)
• Flat, thin stones
• Glass marbles or small glass balls

Instructions

1. Wash your bowl with a mild detergent and rinse well. Let it dry completely. Wash any dirt or dust from the river rocks and flat, thin stones with a mild detergent and rinse well; let dry completely.

2. Connect one end of clear plastic tubing onto the outlet of your pump. Place the pump onto the bottom of the bowl and place river rocks around the pump to secure it when you add your water. Place aquatic plants in their own container onto the bottom of the bowl. Place the pump's cord behind the aquatic plant container and over the rim of the bowl. Add river rocks to secure the plant container and the pump cord.

3. Remove the spout from the pre-assembled bamboo feature. Insert the tubing into the bottom of the feature; push it upward and to the side until it comes out of the hole for the spout. Place your bamboo fountain so the horizontal bamboo supports sit securely on the bowl. Cut off any excess plastic tubing emerging from the hole for the spout. Attach the spout to your bamboo fountain and aim it downward so the water spills into the bowl below.

4. Add the flat, thin stones to the bowl. Do not cover the aquatic plants or their leaves. Add glass marbles or small glass balls to the bowl, placing a few river rocks around the glass balls so they will not move. Fill your bowl with enough water until the water line is higher than the top of the pump. Turn on the pump.

Tips & Warnings

• The horizontal bamboo poles holding your spout should have a length wider than the opening of your bowl.

• Do not use a porous bowl. If the bowl you choose is not glazed or sealed, seal it with an acrylic sealer.

• If your bowl comes with a pre-installed drainage hole, use a small piece of cork or rubber to stop it up; seal with silicone caulk.

• If you hear a humming noise from the pump, add more water to your bowl.

References

• Home Tips: Building & Installing a Container Fountain

Resources

• Garden Gifts: Japanese Fountain & Japanese Basin Set-Up