Potted plants need holes in their containers to allow drainage, which supports plant growth. Without an escape route, excess water saturates the soil of plants, preventing their roots from receiving adequate air. Most plant pots include bottom drainage holes. If, however, you find one without bottom holes or you want to turn another kind of container into a plant pot, you can add drainage holes to it. A drill makes the job simple. With the correct drill bit for the container's material, you can create proper drainage holes easily.
Turn the container upside down on a level work surface. That position allows you to drill easily through the container bottom without drilling into the work surface.
Mark the location for each future drainage hole on the container's bottom by using a marker. Space the marks evenly. A plant container should have at least four drainage holes on its bottom, according to an Ohio State University Extension online article. A large pot, however, should have more than four bottom holes.
Fit a drill with a 1/4-inch drill bit suitable for using on the container's material while wearing safety glasses or goggles. The This Old House website offers these suggestions about the kind of drill bit to use: for metal, use a cobalt steel drill bit; for clay, including ceramic and terracotta, use a masonry drill bit that has a winged tungsten-carbide tip; for fiberglass, use a tile and glass drill bit that has a carbide tip; and for plastic, use a black-oxide, sharp-twist drill bit.
Press tape over the marked locations for the drainage holes if the container is clay, including ceramic and terracotta. The tape helps to prevent cracks.
Create a slight indentation to start each hole and to keep the drill bit from moving sideways. If the container is fiberglass, use a nail or the tip of the drill bit to make the indentations. If the container is metal, use a metal punch to make the starter holes. If the container is plastic, use a nail to make the indentations.
Position the drill bit in one of the indentations, and turn on the drill to operate at a slow speed. Press the drill bit downward with gentle, even pressure, drilling the first drainage hole. Working slowly prevents the container from cracking. Drill each drainage hole in the same way you drilled the first hole.
Wipe away the dust created by drilling the holes. Remove the tape from the container if you used it to protect the pot.
Things You Will Need
- Safety glasses or goggles
- 1/4-inch drill bit
- Tape (optional)
- Nail (optional)
- Metal punch (optional)
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