The gentle sound of water bubbling and flowing adds serenity and peace to any outdoor area. Just imagine yourself sitting quietly in your back yard, listening to the water trickle and gurgle. If you don't have a pond or waterfall in your yard, a simple fountain made from inexpensive supplies like a strawberry pot and a submersible pump can bring the sound of water to your patio or balcony. With just a couple hours of work, you can have a beautiful strawberry pot fountain to enjoy.
Instructions
Prepare the Pieces
1. Spray all the terra cotta pieces with sealant and let them dry.
2. Put on your safety glasses and drill a 3/8-inch hole in the bottom of the terra cotta saucer. The hole needs to be in the middle of the saucer, lined up with the drainage hole on the bottom of the strawberry pot.
3. Drill six 3/8-inch holes around the rim of the terra cotta pot (not the strawberry pot), one inch down from the top of the pot.
4. Use the file to make a notch in the top of the terra cotta pot, large enough for an electrical cord to fit through.
Fit Pieces Together
5. Use the silicone glue to attach the plastic saucer to the inside bottom of the terra cotta bowl, covering any drainage holes in the bottom of the bowl. This bowl will be the catch basin for the fountain.
6. Use the silicone glue to attach the terra cotta saucer inside the rim of the strawberry pot.
7. Place the fountain pump inside the plastic saucer.
8. Attach the copper tubing to the fountain pump outlet.
9. Place the terra cotta pot upside down over the fountain and the plastic saucer, with the fountain's electrical cord coming out through the notch in the side of the pot and the copper tubing coming up through the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot.
10. Place the strawberry pot on top of the upside-down terra cotta pot, feeding the copper tubing through the drainage hole on the bottom of the strawberry pot and the hole you drilled in the bottom of the terra cotta saucer.
11. If necessary, trim the copper tubing so it protrudes about one inch into the terra cotta saucer.
12. If you wish, add rocks or pebbles to the terra cotta saucer and the catch basin.
13. Fill the catch basin with water. Add aquatic plants, if you wish, to the catch basin.
14. Plug in your fountain and enjoy!
Tags: terra cotta, cotta saucer, terra cotta saucer, catch basin, copper tubing, hole bottom, bottom terra