This DIY solar water fountain planter is an easy project that provides beauty and flowing water anywhere in the garden or around your home. No need to worry about long cords or electrical outlets with a solar fountain and you can enjoy the beauty of your favorite annual flowers growing in the bottom pot.
I love the look and sound of outdoor fountains. However, being able to connect them to electrical outlets is often a difficult situation. This fun DIY project does not require any electricity, only sunlight. That means you can place them in the garden, far away from the house.
You can use any pots that you like, even resin ones. I used clay pots and painted them with chalk paint. You can also change up the flowers that you plant in this water fountain/planter. I thought the bright green Creeping Jenny would look great with the blue pots, and it's a carefree plant that requires little maintenance.
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Supplies
- paintbrush
- craft knife
- large clay pot
- small clay pot
- plastic pot
- craft paints
- potting soil
- plants
- metal & glue or tape
- foam sealant
- solar fountain insert
Making an Outdoor Solar Fountain Planter
Step 1. Start with two pots that can nest inside each other.
Raise the smaller pot up with a leftover plastic gallon nursery pot turned upside down. (see image above)
Step 2. Paint the pots with craft paint, spray paint, or leave them in their natural state. You can use a sealant or outdoor poly spray to protect your paint, or just let it wear naturally.
Step 3. Add soil around the plastic pot.
Step 5. The top pot will be holding the water, so you need to plug the drainage hole if it has one. Leave the drainage alone on the larger bottom pot so water can drain away from the plants.
I used the metal container that tea lights come in and smashed it to cover the hole and glued it into place. You could use anything you have or just some duct tape for this step.
Step 6. Next, you turn over the pot and spray foam sealant in the hole, making the pot watertight. You have to wait 12 hours for the foam to cure but after that, you can cut it down flush to the pot with a craft knife.
Step 7. Plant flowers or pretty plants in the space between the two pots. I chose Lysimachia, commonly known as Creeping Jenny, because I think the lime green color looks great with the blue pots.
Other Plant Choices
I used Creeping Jenny; however, anything that trails and fills in would be a good choice for this planter.
- sweet alyssum
- lobelia
- bacopa
- sweet potato vine
- vinca vine
- nasturtium
- black-eyed Susan vine
Solar Fountain Settings
This solar water fountain pump comes with different nozzles. With no nozzle, you get a nice low bubbling effect (shown above). Some of the nozzles spray several inches into the air, as shown below.
The great thing is that you can place this DIY solar fountain anywhere as long as the solar panel gets enough light. Direct sunlight is best but even some areas that receive partial sun may work. However, you will need to keep an eye on the water level, which will slowly evaporate over time.
It certainly makes a pretty addition to any garden bed, close to the house, or far away.
More Water Feature Ideas
DIY Solar Water Fountain
Equipment
- Paintbrush
- Craft knife
Materials
- large clay pot - 14-in W x 12-in H
- small clay pot - 10.63-in W x 7.48-in H
- plastic pot for height - 1 gal nursery pot or other
- craft paints
- potting soil
- plants
- tealight metal holder & glue, or tape
- foam sealant
- solar fountain insert
Instructions
- Paint the smaller pot inside and out.
- Paint the outside of the larger pot and just a little on the inside as the plants will cover the rest.
- Cover the hole of the small pot with glue and a smashed tealight metal container or some other item on the inside.
- Flip over the pot and fill the hole with foam sealant.
- Once dry (usually 12 hours) cut off excess foam with a craft knife.
- Place a large plastic pot upside down in the large container.
- Add soil all around the plastic pot.
- Set the smaller pot on top and plant flowers around the two pots.
- Fill the top pot with water and add a solar fountain insert.
- Set anywhere that gets light and enjoy.
Notes
Della Hicks
Sorry Patti I misplaced your email after I read it, however I wanted to Thank You for your prompt reply to my query!
I hope to order the solar sprayer this week, now fingers crossed I can locate a 12" pot, everyone here seems to be sold out.
Hopefully I will have it up and going by months end!
Thanks again for a lovely project!!
Patti Estep
Della, you are so welcome. Have fun with the fountain.
Anna
I just put my fountain together and it's gorgeous! I thought I could post a pix, but I don't see a way to do so. Send me a message if you are interested in seeing the final product! Thanks for such great instructions!
Patti Estep
That's great, Anna. I'm sorry you had trouble adding an image. I'll have to look into that. You can send me a pic via email.
Della
Hello Patti ~ I have wanted to make this fountain since I discovered your lovely creation online summer 2022, but no joy in finding the 14" clay pot.
Found one, bought the paint and plants, now getting ready to order a solar fountain, do you remember which one you purchased?
Thank You for sharing your idea with us, I am so excited to place this amongst my flower beds!
Patti Estep
Della, I'm sorry. I usually link where I purchase things like this. I bought the fountain insert on Amazon and I just updated the post with the correct link.
Penny Wolf
I just ordered the solar fountain insert and am so excited! Thank you for this post and such a great idea.
Patti Estep
Glad to hear it Penny. Enjoy!
Karen
I have not had a lot of success with those solar fountains. They can be hit or miss on working. I've had to return 2. I also have issues with it floating around and getting too close to the pot edge. I notice you had what looked like straws anchoring yours in the pot. I searched the post for instructions on how you did that but saw nothing. Can you elaborate how you attached whatever it is you are using to keep it centered instead of floating around?
Patti Estep
Karen, that solar fountain I bought comes with plastic tubing and attachments. You can cut it to the size you want if your pot is somewhat small like mine. This fountain also seemed to have a lot of information about how to keep it running. However, I haven't had it long so time will tell.