Solar Plant Pot Water Fountain In Under 15 Minutes

Are you looking for a water feature idea that won't break the bank? Even better, how about one that doesn't require a pesky power cord?



Then you're going to love this easy to assemble and budget-friendly Solar DIY Plant Pot Water Fountain that takes less than fifteen minutes to put together.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

15 Minute Solar Stacked Flower Pot Fountain

You'll need two large flower pots, one larger than the other to make this flower pot fountain. If you already have large flower pots on hand, then this fountain will cost under $20 to make.



We made our stacked flower pot fountain for under $50 because I found the set of resin pots on sale for $35.



If you need to purchase pots like I did, look for large resin, plastic, or glazed flower pots.



You don't have to use the same size flower pots as mine because you can adjust the water flow accordingly by the type of spray head you use. I've included the dimensions of our flower pots for reference below.



Flower Pot Dimensions

The large flower pot is 18-inches in diameter on the top and 14-inches high. The smaller flower pot is 15-inches in diameter and 12-inches high.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

The inspiration for our DIY water fountain was these solar power bird bath water pumps and I just had to have one. It comes with four spray nozzle heads so you can decide what type of spray you'd like for your fountain.



We chose to place our water fountain in a flower bed in the middle of our front yard. I love that we don't have to bury conduit under the grass to run an electrical cord for the water pump.



With a solar fountain, you have the convenience of a drop-and-go pump and let the sun do the work!



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to make the solar flower pot water feature, almost all of the DIY projects shared here at Interior Frugalista have step-by-step tutorials so why not get your budget DIY on and subscribe. You can also follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.



What You'll Need To Make It

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.



Supply List

Set of 2 Flower Pots (alternatives)
Flower Pot Saucer
Plastic pail
River rocks
Solar Power Bird Bath Fountain Pump OR Solar Powered Submersible Pump



When our solar pump was delivered it was raining outside. I couldn't wait to get started so while Mr. Rex ran for cover under the potting bench, I got to work building the fountain.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

How To Make The Solar Plant Pot Water Fountain

I've included the eight simple steps below for building the solar fountain and you should have your fountain working within fifteen minutes.



Step 1 - Level The Ground

With a garden hoe level the ground where you'll be placing the fountain. Place a paving stone or sidewalk block to keep the bottom flower pot off the ground. You may want to bury the stone just a little so it's not visible.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

Step 2 - Bottom Flower Pot

Set the largest flower pot on top of the stone.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

Step 3 - Flower Pot Riser

Insert a large pail (or whatever you have on hand) into the bottom pot to serve as a base for the top flower pot.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

Step 4 - Top Flower Pot Base

You will need a large saucer for the second pot to sit on. We already had this large plastic saucer on hand that just happened to be the perfect size to cover the top of the bottom pot. Unfortunately, the lip on the saucer made it a little too big to fit the opening so we trimmed it.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

Step 5 - Stack Top Flower Pot

Stack the smaller flower pot in the center and fill the saucer with river rocks.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

Step 6 - Top Flower Pot

If your top flower pot has a drainage hole, it will need to be sealed so the water doesn't drain out the pot.



Set a small tile over the drainage hole and attach it to the bottom of the pot with silicone. Run a bead of silicone along the edge of the tile as well to ensure a tight seal and allow it to cure for at least 24 hours before filling with water.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

Step 7 - Set The Solar Pump

Drop the bird bath solar fountain in the top flower pot and watch the sun work it's magic!



Step 8 - How To Keep The Solar Pump In Center Of Pot

Now you may be wondering what those four galvanized wires are about. Because the pump floats in the flower pot, it often floats to the edge. When it does, the spray flows over the pot and rapidly drains the water.



Pro-Tip

This is a great tip for keeping the solar pump centered in the pot.



Insert galvanized wires into the foam floatations on the pump. Cut the wires to fit the distance from the pump to the sides of the pot. Now the solar pump is stationary and the spray falls back into the flower pot.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

Does the fountain have to be in the direct sun?

Yes, the fountain must be situated in a sunny location. Because the pump doesn't have a rechargeable solar panel, it needs direct sun in order to work. It will not run on cloudy days nor will it run after dusk.



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

Option B - Solar-Powered Submersible Rechargeable Pump

If you would prefer that your water fountain run rain or shine and day or night, then here is another solar-powered submersible pump option.



It comes with a solar panel and rechargeable battery that lasts 5+ hours at night and recharges with the sun during the day. Bonus, it includes 5 LED lights that illuminate your water fountain at night.



Does the water have to be checked regularly?

The water will evaporate, especially on hot days. It's important that you check the water level in the top flower pot regularly and fill it as necessary.



That's it, enjoy your new solar fountain!



How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony.

We also made this electrically powered Stacked Flower Pot Fountain for our backyard.



But if you want to get real fancy-schmancy and know your way around power tools, then you may like this amazing DIY Water Wall that we made for our deck which also acts as a privacy screen.



Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by this solar fountain idea.



If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!



If you enjoyed this DIY Solar Water Feature, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your Backyard Ideas or DIY Water Features board on Pinterest.




How to make a backyard solar plant pot water fountain in under fifteen minutes with stacked flower pots perfect for a deck, patio, porch, or balcony. #solarfountain #diyfountain #gardenfountain

I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.



Our solar plant pot water fountain is featured at Country Living



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Comments

  1. This is so cool!! I didn't even know there was such a thing as a solar water pump. That's amazing. You did a beautiful job. Pinning! :)
    #mypinterventures

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    1. Thank you Jennifer, we love our easy peasy solar water fountain!

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  2. That is really pretty and it does sound nice and easy to make! Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Summer Fun party. Pinned.

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    1. Oh it really is easy to make and if you already have the flower pots, super inexpensive too.

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  3. Great idea! Would love to make this... what size pots did you use?

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    1. I used the largest flower pot I could find at the home improvement store that had more than one size matching pot. It's a pretty standard large flower pot. Any size larger flower pot would work to make this.

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  4. What a fun project! I've always wanted a water feature in my yard! This will be one of my features on Monday for the Summer Fun Link Party!

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    1. I'm glad you like my solar water feature Roseann and thank you so much for featuring it in the fun linky party you co-hosted! Appreciate that you all provided a platform for us to share our summer projects. xo

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  5. I love that this runs on solar polar and no need for electricity. I'll have to show this to the hubby and see if can find a place for a fountain.

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    1. Glad you like the solar function of our fountain, Erlene. Only downside is because the fountain doesn't have a rechargeable battery panel, it will not run on a cloudy day.

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  6. I am going to make this this coming week. It can't be any simpler to make. Thanks for posting this

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it is so super easy to make. Have fun making your water fountain!

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  7. I've wanted a water feature for a while, and I think I could tackle this one! Great project!

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    1. You definitely could, Jeanne! It's important to note that the type of pump I used only works when the sun is out. If you want a solar powered fountain that works rain or shine, you'll need a rechargeable style that comes with a small solar panel that you stick in the flower bed. Enjoy your water fountain!

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  8. Lovely!

    How do you keep the water from just draining out of the bottom of the flower pots?

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    1. There is no hole on the bottom of the top pot, which is where the water is. If your top flower pot has a drainage hole, you'll need to plug it with something like a tile siliconed in place. I hope this helps.

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  9. I would like to make something similar using an approx. 30 inch tall pot with a 16 inch diameter opening at the top. It would sit in decomposed granite bed where I keep other containered plants. This pot has no drainage hole. I was hoping to just fill it up part way with rock, then water and put the floating solar fountain on top. I would use the spout attachment that creates the least amount of spray so I don't have to refill the pot as often. Would this work? Thank you

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  10. Absolutely! As long as your flower pot doesn't leak and there is enough water on top of the rocks, you're good to go!

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  11. Hi. How do you keep the solar pump centered? Could you provide pictures how to do that? Thanks.

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    1. If you look at Step 8 above, I provided two pictures as well as detailed instructions on how to center the solar pump. If you have any further questions, press the contact me tab at the top and I'd be happy to answer them.

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  12. I was trying to figure out how to keep the solar fountain centered as i live on the second floor of an apartment and it seemed the water was gone by the next day as it sprayed over the side and I had to carry jugs of water to fill it. THANK YOU for that clever suggestion to put wires in the foam on the side of the fountain.

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you found that tip helpful, Margaret! Enjoy your apartment balcony water feature throughout this summer.

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  13. Can you let me know the measurements of the pots you used? I want to make sure the ones I looked at to purchase are large enough. Thanks!

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    1. Hi JP, don't worry about getting the exact same size pots. Just look for the largest set available, they are pretty standard sizes. The water flow can be adjusted accordingly by the spray head you use. My largest flower pot has an 18" diameter at the top and stands 14" high. The smaller pot has an 15" diameter and stands 12" high. I hope this helps!

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    2. It definitely does! Just helps to have an idea of how large in scale yours is so I don't buy one that's too small. Thanks so much! :)

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  14. If the upper pot is sitting on the bucket,why do you need the saucer? Thanks for all the tips. It looks great.

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    1. Thanks Patty! You need the saucer to conceal the ugly bucket and empty flower pot underneath. Alternatively, you could fill the lower pot with soil and plant flowers around it.

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  15. Hi Marie. Thank you for your beautiful idea and clear directions with pictures. This really helps! Could you please let me know if I also wanted the water to run over the edge of the first pot creating an overflow waterfall, along with the sprinkler, what I'd have to do differently. I love the beauty and simplicity of yours but need the overflowing of water to drown out some of the neighbors noise. Thank you.

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    1. You're very welcome! If you'd like the water to cascade over the top pot then I would urge you to click the link provided in the Option B heading towards the bottom of this post. That will take you to another solar water fountain that we made with a rechargeable pump. If you have any questions after reading that tutorial, don't hesitate to click the Contact Me button at the top of the blog to send me an email. I'd be happy to help!

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