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Just wondered if anyone had any good tips for putting a drainage hole in a terracotta pot.I bought a sort of 'half strawberry pot' from Tesco for £3.97 the other day & only realised when I got home that it didn't have any drainage hole in the bottom.I'm going to use it for sempervivums which like a lot of drainage otherwise I would have taken a chance with just a good layer of gravel in the bottom.The only thing I can think of is sticking some masking tape in the bottom & trying to drill through it very slowly with a small masonry drill bit, does anyone have a better idea? I don't want to end up cracking it (it might crack in winter anyway as it's made in China & probably not frost proof!)
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Into every life a little rain must fall. -
I'd go for the masking tape and slow drill approach, may be worth trying a pilot hole to start with and working upwards from that. More the question, why are Tesco selling them without drainage holes in the first place, I know plenty of people who wouldn't have the tools to drill them and find it difficult enough with plastic tubs. Pretty cheap though!
Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.
Which one are you and is it how you want to be? -
Thanks Alison, I fell for it with the plastic tubs from there as well.I tried drilling one of them & nearly ripped the tub to pieces! I found the best way with them was to take a thick nail & heat the end of it over a gas flame & push it through the bottom of the pot a few times.Into every life a little rain must fall.Comment
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A heated nail. That sounds like a great idea Sue - I nearly lost my fingers last week trying to drill into a plastic container! Did you really get a terracotta pot from Tesco for £3.49?? I've searched on the internet for a terracotta strawberry pot, but to no avail.~
Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.
~ Mary Kay AshComment
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SueA I'm lucky I leave all that to my OH!
Bernie aka Dexterdog
Bernie aka DDL
Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big thingsComment
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I've never had any problems drilling holes in plastic pots. Must use slow speed or a hand drill, though. As for terracotta I've never tried. I would say definitely use masking tape and a slow speed - wish you luck. Terracotta is porous so any excess water should leak through the sides or evaporate. I think I would go for the thick layer of gravel/crocks and hope for the best.Comment
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I would have thought you'd want it reasonable fast or it will never cut through it. I would put it on a bag of sand as that will help absorb some of the vibrations and don't have it on hammer!!ntg
Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic==================================================Comment
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I use a hand drill for plastic pots - but I can't imagine why on earth anyone would sell a terracotta strawb pot without drainage holes!Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.
www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - SpringComment
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Thought you might like to see how I went on.I managed to drill a small hole in the pot without cracking it by using 2 different size drill bits (starting with a smaller one), resting the pot in a bag of compost (didn't have any sand to hand Nick) & using a medium speed.I left it at one as I didn't want to push my luck. The pot was £3.97 Jennie but it was the last one on the shelf so maybe it was the end of a line, maybe someone realised how daft it was to produce a pot with no drainage for strawberries!Into every life a little rain must fall.Comment
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My husband has drilled holes in terracotta pots for me with no mishaps. So long as you use a slow speed and take your time you should be ok.
And when your back stops aching,
And your hands begin to harden.
You will find yourself a partner,
In the glory of the garden.
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LOL! I was going to say something about checking you hadn't got it on hammer drill!Originally posted by nick the grief
Last summer I got bored with all the cheap ceramic/porcelain houseplant pots I'd accumulated. Knowing I'd gone off keeping houseplants I thought I'd put them to good use. So with masking tape and electric drill & a decent masonary drillbit I put a drainage hole in them all (no breakages either) and used them for potting up my geraniums - much better!
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flowerComment
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As the drilling has been successful Sue, you really got a bargain!~
Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.
~ Mary Kay AshComment
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If you can soak the pot in water for a couple of hours and use a masonry drill bit . Drill slow but firmly stopping ever so often to spray with water.Comment
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Well, as they asked 5 years ago - I'm supposing they either sorted it or lived without it.
What is it with all these old threads getting reposted on? Am I missing something?
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