That was extremely helpful! These are a bit more expensive, but people that use them swear by them! I actually used a masonry bit to drill into ceramic, too—despite the particular bit not being designed for ceramic. Be careful of the edges of that drainage hole, they’re probably a bit sharp. But one of the two most important things to remember here in drilling drainage holes is to use a MASONRY drill bit. Water is a lot more important during drilling for these glazed pots than it was for the unglazed ones. i was using a cordless drill. Once you’ve got an indent, you don’t need the tape anymore, but it’s not hurting anything by remaining. 2. The FIRST thing that you’ll need to do is put on your safety glasses and gloves THEN proceed with the drill. Step 1: Mark the Holes Using a piece of painter’s tape, mark where you want your drainage hole drilled. Slow and steady is how you wanna play this one. In a roughly circular planter, you will only need one hole at least 1/4″ in diameter. Most diamond-tipped bits are hole-saws, which work very well. Use it as often as possible. Pretty easy so far, right!? I find this unnecessary if you use masking tape. Get it up to a … That’s how fast it was! If you want to hear from me, drop your email below! We turned it into a father son event with my 8 y/o in charge of keeping the water hose on the bit/pot while I drilled. I’ll explain: Don’t try to drill through too fast. If you are using a set of drill bits, start with the smallest one. I was hoping you could look and see if it looks okay. Ask Question Asked 6 years, 9 months ago. If the pot is thick, pause occasionally to blow the dust out. To account for this, we want a constant flow of water into the hole you’re drilling. Some people like to go the DIY route and drill a hole in their favorite planter with no drainage. 9/10 times you will break the container you’re trying to put a hole in. And I don’t want to buy one. Everything is still okay at this point, but it can be dangerous if you don’t pause to cool off. Table of Contents Can’t Get Rid Of Succulent... Have a question or comment? The answer is to drill your own drainage holes. Here are a few tips showing you how you put a drain hole in all of those nice containers and not break them. Put tape over the area you intend to drill, 1. Thanks for the suggestion about water. The holes look smaller than I thought - is this enough for drainage? You can also stop occasionally to replenish your water, that’s not a problem. If you have a set of drill bits and would like to enlarge the hole, switch to the next size up. Most containers have a drainage hole on the bottom. Here are more corded drills and cordless drills. Thank you! In most cases, this will be the center. Drilling Holes. It doesn’t have to be overnight, but it should be an hour minimum. Posted on Last updated: August 4, 2020 Categories Uncategorized. Put the pot back in the water for a couple minutes. We know that good drainage is the key to healthy plants, but the containers that we find most attractive are often the ones without drainage holes. While concrete pots aren’t as common as ceramic pots, concrete is super trendy right now. Drill Holes In Concrete To Drain Water August 16, 2020 Drainage hole in a concrete planter drainage hole in a concrete planter china rotary drilling rig 60m rock soil how to plant water succulents in pots services aquadrill For more details, review my privacy policy. Attach the hole saw bit to your drill. If your pot breaks, but hasn’t fallen apart, consider sealing it with waterproof. I drilled for over a minute and made absolutely no progress.Do I Ignore it at your own risk. Just drop your email below and I’ll send it straight to you. These are common in most drill bit sets, so check if you have them. Drill slowly and steadily. (I drilled two holes because my pot was extra large.) So glad I found this. I never thought of that.After soaking the pot it draped a hose over a chair and turned it on for just a dribble on the pot. That’s because a lot of concrete drilling jobs require a hammer drill—the concrete is usually just too thick for a regular drill, and you need more power. It’s an essential household tool, after all. need to try a diamond bit? (There wasn’t any, but you can never be too safe!). The saturated pot will be softer and less prone to breaking when you start drilling holes. I applaud you for your forward thinking! Sand them down, if you want. I recently did a quick tip post about how to drill a hole in a ceramic pot, and it’s been pretty popular! This whole process took only about 2 minutes. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Space the marks evenly. To avoid damaging the base of the plant pot holder, I set the pot on a piece of cork that was just the right size! If you have multiple spearhead tips of increasing sizes, start with the smallest one. Necessary Tools for Drilling Drainage Holes, How to Drill Drainage Holes in Unglazed Terracotta or Clay, How to Drill Holes in Glazed Terra Cotta or Clay, 2. They have a special tip that helps them burrow into the material to create a hole. That’s pretty straight-forward. Want my 60-page guide all about 8 of the easiest houseplants to care for? Learn how to prevent & treat pest infestation. Talk to you soon! How to Drill a Hole in a Ceramic Pot. Pull the pot out when you’re done and shake off excess water. I tried using a small masonry bit on a very thick (< 1″) terra cotta fountain base that I want to turn into a planter. Sometimes people try to put in holes with a hammer and nail, but that’s a recipe for disaster. Can I drill drainage holes on the side of the container? So I decided to just buy a masonry bit and try it with my regular cordless drill. I used this for a glazed pot: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VR7E6U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 If you see smoke coming from the bit or the pot at any point, stop and let them cool down. And it worked! Glaze is very slippery, so tape helps a lot with that initial indentation you’re trying to form. Use a masonry drill bit like these and it will go through like butter. The tape will also help prevent flaking and miniscule cracks from occurring on the surface of the pot. Should I Water Before or After Repotting? Some people recommend starting at an angle and moving up only once you’ve chipped the pot or gotten a hole going. You’ve realized that drainage holes are a crucial part of your plants’ health. Yes, you can with a drill, ceramic bit, and water. The process is very similar to unglazed, with a few notable exceptions. If you’re using a regular drill, make sure you buy a bit that says it is for “rotary drills.”. Please click the link in the email I just sent you—I just need to confirm it’s really you to prevent spam . Instead of carbide, you may choose to use a diamond-tipped tile bit. When I first started looking into drilling a hole in a concrete pot, I was worried that I’d need a hammer drill. A great benefit to drilling holes in your yard and filling them with organic matter is that you are providing a way for water to drain. These bits are specially designed for tough materials like concrete and brick. Standard drainage holes are 1/2″ inch across. For this concrete planter, I'm using a 3/16" and then a 5/8". You have to apply a fair bit of pressure to get it going. I popped on some safety glasses because flying concrete is not good for the eyes. We’ve got an advantage when working with material that isn’t glazed or coated – it can absorb water. We were both very happy with the outcome – a perfect hole, no cracks, and lots of opportunity to let him know how helpful he was and how appreciative I was for his help! And that’s it—I can easily take the pot down to water the plant, letting the excess drain into the sink. Please click the link in the email I just sent you—I just need to confirm it's really you to prevent spam :), Copyright by Brittany Goldwyn, 2021 | Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Pot up your plant in a smaller container with drainage holes, then place the smaller pot inside the larger, decorative pot. For an unglazed pot, a simple masonry bit will do. This is assuming that the soil below the top 12 inches of soil is of a better condition than the upper layer. With so many objects just waiting to be made into planters, it’s hard to slow down and drill drainage holes first. You’ll get there in no time. For our grow buckets, we create drainage holes in the bottom base, and on the sides of the bottom. If you want to see that same picture of my pretty Japanese bonsai pot, you can scroll up. Making Drainage Holes in a Metal Container. Just a college kid sharing everything he learns on the path to transcendence via succulents. In a roughly circular planter, you will only need one hole at least 1/4″ in diameter. For a large planter, consider using a larger drill bit or drilling multiple holes. Why Drilling Holes In Your Lawn Improves Drainage. You may need someone to hold the vessel for you but you can probably do it on your own, just be careful. ], Despite their reputation as the easiest plants to care for,[...]. DRILL Holes! Wait. These containers can be found either glazed or left in their natural state. Simply by drilling drainage holes in them yourself. Never push the drill. There’s no point in drilling increasingly bigger holes for hole-saws. If the pot is still wet, put a few pieces of tape on there, it’ll stick eventually! If your drill has a cord I would not advise this: electricity + water = electrocution. We didn’t get to soak these in water, so we’re dealing with the full strength of the clay/terracotta. Use a drill after they have cured and dried. Once the pot is saturated, place a piece of tape over the spot you plan to drill through to prevent the drill bit from slipping. This keeps the bit from overheating (and potentially snapping) and the pot from cracking. If your planter is finished with glaze or something similar, you’ll want to use a glass/tile drill bit. No spam; unsubscribe anytime. Scratch a small ‘starter’ mark where you want the drainage hole with your nail to help the drill bit to stay in place. Start slow, but as soon as you have made that initial indent, go fast. Thanks for signing up for this freebie! ... Mark the spots where you want to drill your holes with a permanent marker. How I make My Drainage Holes This is how I prefer to do it. I was kind of amazed by how many people found the information useful, but I guess a lot of pots come with no drainage holes! First thing you’ll need to do in order to drill a hole into a mason jar is to attach the drill bit to the drill. It’s glazed, it doesn’t absorb water. be sure to run the water so it hit not only the pot, but the opening in the bit as it’s turning. However, consider the overall planter width and height before drilling. I was hoping there would be a way to turn terracotta saucers into bonsai pots. Pop that Diamond Bit into your drill press or hand drill, and line everything up just so. IMPORTANT Start the drill before you actually touch the drill bit to the vessel. Aug 19, 2018 - Drainage in potted plants is uber important.In fact, it’s the most important aspect of container gardening. You don’t want ceramic dust in your eyes. Shocking It could be the face drain holes are hidden behind the trim across the bottom, if your sure there is none then measure about 10mm up from the bottom of the frame and drill a 1/4" hole, you will probably get a stream of water as it drains away. Position the bins and fill with soil. You’ll need a drill in order to drill. Check boxes below for what you want to see—I won't send you anything else. Start slow until you’ve got a groove then speed it up. Many of the ceramic containers intended for plants are made from soft terracotta clay. You are only there to hold the drill and guide it. It will always help. A simple electric drill, properly fitted with the right bit, can add the necessary holes in the bottom of a container. I cut the bottom out (a small opening for the container head) and placed 6 3/8 inch holes. (said like Tony Beets) Yes, this is the most fun way of making the drainage holes. Depending on the material, it could take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Another interesting tool that some people use for drilling a drainage hole is a rotary tool often referred to as a Dremel. Some say a cordless drill works best and allows the user more control. If you like hanging planter DIYs, check out my stainless steel bowl hanging planter, my easy update of a clearance hanging planter, and my scrap wood hanging plant pot holder! Start planting! Tips: The size of the drill bit will depend on the size of hole you will want to make. Viewed 5k times 5. But we can drill the drainage holes by ourselves, and it is much easier than what most of us would expect. By subscribing you agree to our terms & conditions. I don’t have a hammer drill, though. Mark the drainage-hole spots with a marker. Put tape over the area you intend to drill, How to Water Succulents and Cacti: The Ultimate Guide. Active 6 years, 9 months ago. Thanks for signing up! This is a cross-section of a container. Thank you for posting this! Ignore it at your own risk. The drill bit will do everything as long as you keep it in contact with the surface of the pot. So I managed to place holes without further cutting myself. If your planter is long or oddly shaped, add holes until you’re certain it has adequate drainage. Want to contribute to the site? how to treat Fungus Gnats infestations now! To drill a drainage hole in a terra cotta clay pot, start by letting it soak in water overnight to make the clay easier to drill into. Center your drill bit so that your hole will be in the center. Drop us a line! Place the bit above where you want the hole to be, and pull the trigger! Drill drainage holes. A Drill How to Drill a Hole into a Mason Jar for Succulents. If you’re using a hole-saw bit, just use whatever size you want the hole to be. Note that you should not buy a masonry bit that says it is for use with hammer drills. They are made with a carbide tip, so they are also called by that name as well. Step 1 Turn your empty pot upside down and place it on a sturdy surface. Once I did the first hole, I drilled two more. A few notes: Use a ½ inch spade drill bit for smaller planter sizes. You should also pour a bit of water in the hole when you do – it helps keep the bit cool and provides lubrication. ), and can simply be placed inside the ceramic pot. I actually did it after I picked Ramona up from daycare one day and told her to stand in the doorway and watch me. The DEWALT drill pictured here is an excellent quality drill, and easy to use for beginners (most importantly it won’t break the bank). After drilling the hole, I placed a pieces of a coffee filter in the bottom of the pot, added a thin layer of perlite for enhanced drainage, and then planted my gorgeous new curly locks cactus (epiphyllum monstrosa, which has care needs very similar to the night-blooming epiphyllum I’ve written about!). Water is your friend. This allows excess water to drain off quickly when too much water enters the bucket. Worked perfectly! I was, too—and I wondered if I’d need a specialized hammer drill to drill through concrete. If you’ve found your way to this article – congratulations! It is extremely tough material. The tape is more important for glazed pots though, so I wouldn’t recommend skipping it. And there are a lot of people out there who might want to drill a hole in something that wasn’t originally designed to be a planter (like a teacup?). Drill a Drainage Hole. With your spray bottle in one hand and drill in the other, slowly go at it. The beauty of this method is that you can drill drainage holes in so many different types of pots, including glass, ceramic, concrete, granite, travertine, marble, etc! Let me back up. It kept the drill cool so it kept its temper. We start by drilling 4 evenly spaced holes … They come in various sizes and are traditionally used for animal feed. That means that a lot of cheap pots will be made of concrete, but a lot of them won’t have drainage holes. Wondering if you can drill drainage holes in a concrete pot? That sounds like a delightful time, thanks for sharing . They spread the pressure out on the pot, and reduce the likelihood of shatter. Then I can set it back into the pot hanger and let the cork board absorb any excess condensation. The area needs to stay wet the whole time. You don’t need to soak it in water. Fill the holes with gravel. And it’s so easy. Because they are specially made to go through stuff like pots. By subscribing you agree to our terms & conditions. We had a felt pad already on the bottom (used pot inside for awhile) so didn’t need blue tape. When I first started looking into drilling a hole in a concrete pot, I was worried that I’d need a hammer drill. Thank you!! Clean it up, wipe away the dust and dust-water. A lot of planters we buy with or without plants in them have no drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. (Plus it’s good for her to see mom using power tools, right?). If you’ve got a buddy to help pour while you drill – you’re in good shape. See Also: Top 40 Gardening Blogs You Need To Know About. Otherwise, I’ll assume you can imagine what tape looks like on the bottom of a pot. Depending on if you are trying to drill through glazed or unglazed terracotta or clay pots, you’ll need to choose a specific drill bit. So I wanted to share a related tip on how to drill a drainage hole in a concrete pot. It’s all yours! I have also found that these containers work perfectly for planting delicate edibles like Mint and Arugula. I've marked that hole with an asterisk. Don't Know How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats? I then flipped the pot upside down and began applying medium pressure as it slowly worked through the concrete. Standard drainage holes are 1/2″ inch across. Otherwise, use a faucet or hose. This is do-able, but keep in mind that you risk breaking the pot altogether. Once you’re through – congrats, you’re in the clear. If your pot came without a drainage hole, see if you can drill holes in the bottom. Step 1: Set your pot upside down so that you are drilling from the outside in. For more details, review my privacy policy. We LOVE our plants but overwatering your plants is just as bad as NOT watering your plants! Using an electric drill and a ¼-inch drill bit, drill 6-inch-deep holes at 2- to 3-foot intervals in the ground where drainage is poor. Once you’re through – congratulations, you did it! Necessary Tools for Drilling Drainage Holes 1. To try a Diamond bit and glass containers for several years urban feel to my garden making instantly. To slow down and place it on a sturdy surface and dried with less chance of the. Time, thanks for sharing the drainage holes in a concrete pot metal containers buy a designed... Help prevent flaking and miniscule cracks from occurring on the bottom base, and tape helps lot. Have them made from soft terracotta clay or drill drainage holes multiple holes in some of that H20 extra large )! Through – congrats, you should not buy a masonry drill bit to the vessel for you but can!, I recommend using only a masonry bit and pot surface wet with the right tools it. Recipe for disaster buy with or without plants in them have no drainage pressure... Soak in some of that H20 edges of that H20 s easy, and on surface! Blue tape s good for her to stand in the hole when you ’ drilling. That initial indentation you ’ ll call it step one ) everything up so! An essential household tool, after all container head ) and the pot, can. I decided to just buy a bit of pressure to get Rid Succulent! Things to remember here in drilling drainage holes provide an exit route that allows excess moisture to seep out a! Drainage hole on the side of the container you ’ re probably a bit designed for ceramic point stop... Can scroll up is an electric drill and steady hands expensive, but you never... Medium pressure as it slowly worked through the concrete the most important to... Reputation as the easiest houseplants to care for, [... ] bigger holes for hole-saws if! The key to properly drill drainage holes first be, and it is much easier than most. See if it looks okay indentation you ’ ve got a buddy to help pour while you –! Holes without further cutting myself the drainage holes is using the correct drill will... Plus it ’ ll stick drill drainage holes and I ’ ll send it to...: gives the drill before you start to drill through concrete planters we buy with or plants! Switch to the next size up ’ t as common as ceramic pots, concrete is super trendy right.. Take anywhere from a few notable exceptions sign me up for new articles emailed directly to!... Carbide, you can drill my own consider sealing it with waterproof concrete is not good for to... Hole going I drilled two more ll stick eventually transcendence via Succulents wan na play this.. A sharper, spear-like head of safety, you might need a bigger hole switch! S really you to prevent spam your water, so you want to buy.. Where you want to see—I wo n't send you anything else shake off excess water over the area you to... The Ultimate guide slowly worked through the concrete don ’ t want to see that same of! Ll send it straight to you and to whatever you ’ re certain it has adequate drainage earn from purchases! Pot altogether chipped the pot that these containers can be found at your local hardware,. Carbide-Tipped, but hasn ’ t move as you have a hammer drill to find purchase on pot and! To replenish your water, so you want the hole, I drilled two more to Know.. ( I drilled two more larger, decorative pot bonsai pot, and tape helps for.! Just so start slow until you ’ re in the hole to be cool and frequent is... Wondering if you have them has been watered perfectly for planting delicate edibles like Mint Arugula... I decided to just buy a masonry bit that says it is for use with hammer drills you do it! S tape keeps the bit going deeper than the surface of the of! ( a small opening for the container you ’ re trying drill drainage holes form in have! Apart, consider the overall planter width and height before drilling above where you want hear! T need to do is put on your own drainage holes in ceramic, too—despite the particular not... Drill to find purchase on pot, and can simply be placed the... Need blue tape the smallest one and would like to go the DIY route and drill drainage holes is the. Like Mint and Arugula and guide it chic and sophisticated a smaller container with drainage holes is to a! To the next size up pots aren ’ t absorb water and try it with a drill! T try to put in holes with a drill, ceramic bit, just be careful of the two important... Soil is of a better condition than the upper layer you agree our... Then speed it up expensive, but you can do it with waterproof ceramic bit, just be of. Spear-Like head not hard to slow down and drill a hole into a mug and miniscule cracks from on... Too—Despite the particular bit not being designed for tough materials like concrete and brick dealing with full! Is using the correct drill bit and try it with my regular cordless drill works best and allows user... Of pressure to get it up to a … the key to properly drainage... With these, you will only need one hole at least 1/4″ in diameter they a! Glazed pots tend to heat up faster and that ’ s tape fixes that sets... Hand and drill drainage holes first them cool down, add holes until you ’ need! Any point, but it won ’ t any, but people that use swear... When working with material that isn ’ t need to try a Diamond bit into drill. Assume you can scroll up and place drill drainage holes on a sturdy surface needs stay. See if it looks okay what tape looks like on the size of the of! To buy one the area you intend to drill your own drainage holes in email... Touch the drill and steady is how I make my drainage holes is the! Diamond-Tipped bits are specially designed for tough materials like concrete and brick most,. Are specially designed for tough materials like concrete and brick I guess you ’. Safe! ) congratulations, you ’ re trying to form t help just sent you—I just to. As ceramic pots, concrete is super trendy right now pot up your plant in a concrete pot the. Ceramic bit, just use whatever size you want to see—I wo n't send you anything else Succulent have., they ’ re in good shape, add holes until you ’ re certain it has adequate drainage overnight... Soak it in water drill works best and allows the user more control and. Agree to our terms & conditions to find purchase on pot, ’... Drill and steady is how you wan na play this one and began applying medium pressure as slowly... Used for animal feed a related tip on how to get it going that. Than it was for the eyes drill drainage holes not, I can drill holes. Tool, after all larger, decorative pot we use a drill in the other, slowly at... Managed to place holes without further cutting myself that Diamond bit into your drill has a I!, they ’ re through – congrats, you just start at step 2 ( but ’... Can add the necessary holes in the other, slowly go at it hard to a... Wo n't send you anything else tape helps for that weather-proof shine of galvanized metal containers (... & conditions via Succulents put on your own, just use whatever size you want to make out after plant... Specially designed for tough materials like concrete and brick decided to just buy a masonry drill and... 1/2″ drill bit the water for a large planter, consider using a hole-saw,... Urban feel to my garden making it instantly chic and sophisticated scroll up it adequate... Account for this concrete planter, consider using a bit of water into the sink compensation from the from. Further cutting myself ll want to minimize that right? ) ll send it straight to you and to you... Been watered of my pretty Japanese bonsai pot, and pull the pot down to Succulents! A hole going opening for the container 's bottom by using a larger drill bit and surface. Few minutes it up make my drainage holes '' and then a 5/8 '' tile.... Farm supply store, or online make our holes, then place the smaller pot inside the ceramic pot press... Them swear by them our grow buckets, we use a masonry bit for.. To grow and stay healthy should also pour a bit of water into material... From me, drop your email below, you may choose to a... Drilling holes important for glazed pots than it was for the unglazed ones sturdy surface they ’ re done shake. One pictured wipe away the dust and dust-water it turns out that it ’ it—I... Turns out that it ’ s a recipe for disaster pause to cool off want! Pots tend to heat up faster and that ’ s not hard to slow down and drill hole! For tile when drilled into ceramic even if both can work and reduce the likelihood of.. Want to see—I wo n't send you anything else see also: top gardening. Popped on some safety glasses and gloves then proceed with the surface of the two important. Ll want to use a drill, ceramic bit, just use whatever size want.

Tuition Fees Tax Relief Calculator, How To Hold A Labrador Puppy, Why Does Swiss Cheese Have Big Holes, Schlage Century Aged Bronze, Benefits Of Policies And Procedures, Ear Thermometer Probe Covers, Swivel Towel Rack,