Small and large gardens, yards, and residences can benefit from container gardening or gardening in ceramic flowerpots. You can instantly add color and create a focal point by placing these pots inside or out on your patio.
The wonderful thing about using a glazed ceramic pot for gardening is that you can grow flowers, vegetables, or herbs. However, you can come across pots with no holes as they weren’t intended for gardening, or the holes they have are insufficient for good drainage.
You may wonder, can you drill hole in ceramic pot? Luckily, you can make your own drainage holes, so you never have to miss out on your container gardening opportunity. There are some things you need to do for drilling drainage holes in pots, as it isn’t like drilling into a piece of wood.
In our guide, you can learn all you need about drilling hole in ceramic pot using a high-speed drill. By the end, you’ll be able to take your thrift store finds and have some happy gardening once you’ve added these pots to your DIY projects. (Read 5 Terra Cotta Pot Fairy Garden Ideas)
Can You Drill A Hole In A Ceramic Pot Without Breaking It?
Once you spot that beautiful pot, you see it has no drainage holes? There’s no need to have any additional cost and pick another as you can drill holes in the ceramic planter and avoid soggy roots!
Whether you got them from the local thrift stores or home decor stores, you can convert these expensive ceramic containers into the best container gardens you have.
Drainage holes prevent your plant and soil from becoming wet as the pot can drain excess water.
Drainage is simple to add by drilling holes, presuming they aren’t blocked by anything.
However, adding drainage to a plant pot is not simply possible by drilling holes in the pot.
Here are a couple of ways to improve drainage in your pot:
- Double pot: Put a pot with drain holes inside a larger pot, such as the plastic nursery pot a plant comes in. The inside pot can drip water without getting wet.
- Add pebbles: By adding a layer of small rocks or pebbles, you can create an area where water can collect without causing your soil to get soggy.
How To Drill Drainage Holes In Ceramic Pots?
Supplies needed:
- Diamond drill bits for ceramic pot
- Cordless drill
- Ceramic pot
- Safety glasses
Steps to drill in an unglazed ceramic pot:
1. Choose your diamond drill bit
To drill through ceramic pots, you will need a diamond drill bit. They may also be referred to as masonry drill bits.
This bit resembles a wet saw and is made specifically for drilling through tile.
2. Wet the pot
Diamond bits must be used on a wet surface to avoid overheating and potential breakage.
It is best to drill pots upside down for unglazed ceramic.
Note: When you drill glazed ceramic pots, it can cause some of the glaze to chip around the hole. (Learn How To Care For Outdoor Ferns In Pots)
3. Drill at an angle
Place the pot on a damp towel to stop it from spinning.
Hold the drill at a 45-degree angle on the pot base.
Pull the trigger to start drilling.
4. Straighten Up
As soon as you feel the drill bit catch, adjust the drill, so it is vertical.
To properly drill the hole, push down and increase the speed. You can add more water to prevent dust if needed.
If you have one pot and it needs a larger hole. Drill a small hole first and then drill a larger hole as this can stop the pot from cracking.
Types of drill bits for pot types:
The above steps work on many types of pot, although you may need to change your drill bit to drill through unconventional materials quickly.
- Terra Cotta or clay pots: Diamond drill bit or a masonry bit.
- Ceramic tile: Diamond drill bit, also called a glass bit.
- Plastic pots: Sharp twist bit or a normal bit.
- Metal: Cobalt steel bit
- Thick Glass: Diamond drill bit or glass bit
How many drainage holes should I drill in my pot?
- It is a great tip to add 2 holes in a pot over 8 inches in diameter.
- For one hole, drill in the center, and if you want to drill more holes, you can drill halfway from the pot center to the edge.
- Never drill holes too close, or it could cause your pot to crack.
Can I Drill A Hole In A Ceramic Pot?
Here are the steps you need to drill holes on ceramic or glazed pots or containers.
Materials required to drill drain holes into ceramic containers:
- Use a masonry drill bit on unglazed surfaces like concrete or terra cotta.
- Use a glass and tile drill bit on glazed ceramic pots, bowls, cups, and other glazed containers.
- Painters tape or masking tape.
- Safety glasses.
- Gloves
1. Step one: Prep container to drill plant pot drain holes.
Place the ceramic planter on a piece of wood, which is wider than the bottom of your planter. If using a workbench, you can use a damp towel to stop the pot from spinning.
2. Begin Drilling
Pick the proper drill bit when drilling a drainage hole in a container to make a planter. Don’t buy the low-quality, no-name models, unless you just intend to drill only one or two pots; the tips wear out fast.
Use a masonry bit for drilling a pot drainage hole made of terra cotta, or a diamond bit works fine.
When drilling drain holes in ceramic or glass, always remember to use gloves and safety eyewear! (Learn How To Grow Onions In Pots)
In order to make drainage holes in your containers, use the right-sized drill bit. Likewise, small containers require small holes.
- Cover the drill site with painter’s tape to prevent your drill bit from sliding around when drilling a drain hole on a glazed surface.
- Set your drill torque to a .4 setting, which is low.
- The planter drain hole should be started by drilling at a speed of about 1/3 of full throttle or at a slow speed.
- Don’t push too hard; just enough to make a hole.
- Different speeds are used to make a hole through ceramic containers. On sensitive surfaces, be gentle and avoid pushing too hard.
- As you drill, keep your pressure constant. Terra cotta drills incredibly quickly.
- Start drilling at a low speed and increase it later when drilling thick surfaces, such as cereal bowls or teacups.
- Pour water around the hole as you drill the drain hole. It will cool and keep any dust to a minimum.
If the bottom of your container is flat, it is possible to begin drilling from the inside.
If the container isn’t large enough or isn’t flat, you’ll need to drill from the outside.
If you ever wonder what you can drill holes into to make them planters? You’ll find an endless supply of containers from the local thrift store or neighborhood garage sale.
Remember, it is possible to drill drain holes in any ceramic container to convert it into a planter.
Here are several ideas of things you can turn into a planter by drilling drain holes with little extra cost.
- Cookie jars
- Coffee and Creamer Canisters
- Mixing bowls
- Teacups (use a saucer as a drip tray)
- Cereal, soup, or fruit bowls
What Type Of Drill Bit Do You Use For Ceramic Pots?
A drill bit designed for tile and stone, or glass and tile is ideal for
ceramic pots.
They are available online and at every hardware store.
A Bosch Tile and Stone 12″ drill bit, for instance, can drill through glass, granite, natural stone, and ceramic.
Since fragments of bark or stone found in potting soil pots can quickly obstruct a drain hole that is too small, a 1/2′′ hole seems to be the ideal size for most plant pot sizes.
Cover the hole with a larger stone, pebbles, and a piece of coconut coir plant lining, a screen, or weed mesh to stop dirt from leaking out the bottom of the plant pot but allow water to still pour out with no soil.
Other Tools Needed to Drill Drain Hole in Ceramic Pot
Power Drill:
A good drill is vital, so you have the power needed to properly drill through your pots, no matter what material they’re made of.
No matter what material your pots are made of a good drill will have the power to drill through the plant pots properly.
How Do You Drill A Hole In A Ceramic Pot By Hand?
- To drill from the outside in, position your pot upside down. As you begin to drill, ensure the pot is securely in place and won’t move.
For your hole to be in the center, center your drill bit.
Ceramic pots are turned upside-down to allow for the drilling of a drain hole - Slowly begin drilling while lightly pressing the drill’s top with the hand on the opposite bit of your body. The bit won’t slip as a result of this.
You can speed up your drill if you see a hole beginning to form in your pot.
As you drill, you should also sprinkle water on the pot to prevent the drill bit from overheating and to aid in drilling through the surface. - Once you drill all the way through the pot, gently pull the drill bit back out.
How many drainage holes are needed, or is one drainage hole enough?
For most pots, just one drainage hole is plenty, especially if the pot is smaller.
However, if the pot is large or wider with a different shape, such as a rectangular planter, it’s beneficial to drill a few holes for water to drain. (Find the Best Orchid Pots)
Note: It takes a little time to drill all the way through, depending on the hardness of your pot.
The average time to drill through is anywhere from 30 seconds to about 2 minutes.
It’s not as quick and easy as drilling through wood, so be patient.
