How to Build a Water Fountain out of Flowerpots

Glazed, ceramic flowerpots can make decorative outdoor water fountains.

Build your own decorative, tiered water fountain with three glazed, ceramic flowerpots. Glazed ceramic flowerpots are not porous, so there is no need to seal them before using them as a basin for a water fountain. To make a tiered water fountain, you'll need three different sizes of flowerpots, each one slightly larger than the next. You can easily make a water fountain using only one flowerpot, but a three-tiered effect will create a focal point in your landscape.

Things You'll Need

• 4 large, wooden, furniture feet
• Exterior spray paint
• 16-inch diameter glazed flowerpot
• Waterproof construction adhesive
• Rubber sheet
• Scissors
• Silicone sealant
• Submersible fountain pump
• 10 half bricks
• 12-inch diameter glazed flowerpot
• 8-inch diameter glazed flowerpot
• Fountainhead extension
• Small glass marbles

Instructions

1. Paint four large, wooden, furniture feet with exterior spray paint. Allow the paint to dry. Glue the flat side of the four painted feet onto the underside of a 16-inch diameter ceramic glazed flowerpot with waterproof construction adhesive. Space the feet evenly around the flowerpot. Allow the glue to dry.

2. Cut a section of rubber to fit over the drainage hole in the 16-inch flowerpot. Cut a slit in the center of the rubber that is wide enough to fit the end of the pump's power cord through. Insert the end of the power cord through the slit.

3. Sit the pump inside the center of the 16-inch flowerpot. Fit the cord through the drainage hole. Glue the piece of rubber over the opening with silicone sealant. Seal the slit around the cord with the sealant. Allow the silicone to dry completely.

4. Fit the fountainhead extension onto the pump spout. Stretch the fountainhead as far upward as it will go.

5. Position two half bricks inside the 16-inch flowerpot, one on each side of the pump. The bricks should be as close to the pump as possible. Spread a bead of silicone sealant on top of each brick. Press two more bricks on top of the first two. Glue two additional half bricks on top of the bricks in the second stack.

6. Glue a 12-inch glazed flowerpot on top of the brick platform inside the 16-inch flower pot with silicone sealant. The fountainhead should fit through the drainage opening. Make another rubber seal to fit over the drainage hole and around the fountain head. Glue the rubber to the flowerpot with silicone sealant.

7. Create another brick platform in the center of the 12-inch flowerpot. Stack the bricks two-high and place them on each side of the fountainhead extension.

8. Repeat Step 6 to glue and seal an 8-inch glazed flowerpot to the brick platform inside the 12-inch flowerpot. The fountainhead should end inside the 8-inch flowerpot.

9. Cover the brick platforms with decorative glass stones. Fill all three flowerpots to within 3 inches of the rim with water. Plug in the pump. The fountainhead will force the water in the top tier to move and flow over into the middle tier. The water in the middle tier will flow over into the bottom tier.

References

• The Artful Crafter: Simple Steps to Build a Table Top Water Fountain
• Marigold Lane: How to Make a Simple Outdoor Fountain

Resources

• Graystone Creations: Frequently Asked Questions about Fountain Pumps