With a suspended watering can pouring into the flower-filled pot below, you’d be forgiven for thinking this magic fountain is something straight out of Alice in Wonderland! Easy to make, it can be positioned anywhere you’d like as an amusing conversation starter. Like all containerised water features, it uses little water – just fill up the reservoir and let it recirculate.
Gather your supplies:
• 1.8L watering can
• Large, round squat pot (about 60cm diameter)
• Small low-voltage pump
• Mini mesh panel
• 15mm diameter poly pipe risers with threads (150mm length and 200mm length)
You’ll also need:
15mm diameter pressure- reducing valve; bricks (5-6); potted flowers; 19mm female- threaded tee connector; Yates Pot-a-Seal (optional); Selleys Knead It Aqua; tinsnips; pincers; rubber gloves; felt-tip pen; drill; 10mm drill bit; potted colour; decorative pebbles
Here’s how…
STEP 1
Wearing rubber gloves, plug drainage hole in base of pot with Selleys Knead It Aqua. If you’re using a terracotta pot (which is quite porous), spray inside of pot with Yates Pot-a-Seal to make it waterproof.
STEP 2
With watering can upside down on a workbench, drill a 10mm pilot hole in base on side closest to spout.
STEP 3
Using tinsnips, enlarge hole so it will fit tee connector. Make hole oval, not round.
STEP 4
Screw 200mm poly pipe riser into tee connector. Apply a blob of Selleys Knead It Aqua to underside on each side of tee. Feed riser through hole in base of watering can, so tee connector sits inside.
Choose a watering can in a colour that contrasts with the blooms below, to make it stand out.
STEP 5
Tilt can so riser is at a 90- 100° angle to spout, as shown.
STEP 6
Use Selleys Knead It Aqua to plug area around hole in watering can, both inside and out, so it’s watertight. Allow to set for at least 1 hour.
STEP 7
Lay mini mesh panel on top of pot and, using a felt-tip pen, mark out internal circumference of pot. Cut mini mesh panel to size with pincers.
STEP 8
Screw 150mm poly pipe riser into top of pump, then place pump in base of pot, positioned against side. Feed power cord over lip of pot.
STEP 9
Place a brick on each side of pump to secure. Add a second layer of bricks. Place cut mini mesh on top, threading riser from pump through a square in mini mesh. Screw pressure-reducing valve onto riser.
STEP 10
Screw riser from watering can into pressure-reducing valve, ensuring spout ends up facing into pot. If your watering can has a spout rose, unscrew it and remove it.
STEP 11
Fill pot with water, up to level of mini mesh. Plug in pump and switch on to check flow from watering can. If water shoots out past pot, adjust pressure-reducing valve until flow is correct.
STEP 12
Cluster potted flowers on top of mini mesh, leaving a gap for water to flow through to pump. Add decorative pebbles, filling spaces between pots.
Notes:
1. If you would prefer to use water plants instead of flowers, fill the squat pot up a little more so the bases of the pots will be immersed in water.
2. Even though the suspended watering can creates the illusion that your flowers are being tended to, you’ll still need to water them as usual.
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