Drill Drainage Holes in Pots WITHOUT Breaking Them! (Foolproof Method)

[@mordsythe]

If your using a drill bit. Using 2 pieces of duct tape, Put an X over where you want the hole. Drill thru the tape. And the pot. Insta hole. No cracks or breaks ;) My grandad always did it this way.

[@epicgardening]

:)

[@kelseyscantland1988]

I use masking tape too.

[@jordanxfile]

Exactly; that's how I drill on glazed tiles 👍🏻

[@dbloskidelros]

This was how l was going to do it, too... just wasn't sure about what kind of drill tip l was going to use. Now l know.

[@vanessalumbra9409]

Always use tape so the bit doesn't slide around. Always.

[@pravidence]

I don’t usually leave comments but I bought 6 &tradition pots online and they came without drainage holes. I have never used a drill before in my life. So I followed ur video and went to get a cheap drill with a diamond drill bit. And now I have 6 pots with drainage holes and none cracked ! U are the best! Thank you very much. I had worries about how much force to exert on the pots but eventually figured they could tolerate some force. Regards from a plant daddy from Singapore !

[@pocketsofmayhem]

Diamond core bits/ hole saws will last much, much longer by using water with them while drilling. It acts as a lubricant to protect and cool the diamonds while drilling. ( I worked for a company that made these drills.) You can make a simple dam with some modeling clay around where you want to drill and fill it with water.

[@epicgardening]

Appreciate that tip!

[@dbloskidelros]

Thanks for this tip!

[@jeannieNYc]

Great tip!

[@cillamoke]

Thank you

[@Littlefieldpaints]

@@epicgardening punderful =P

[@giosepher1308]

Is no one going to take about how nice it was that he put the warning sign for noise??? Thank you so much from a headphone user 😄

[@dyscea]

Give me that ASMR!!! 🤣

[@hellfooliver1497]

Yeah!

[@forest487]

It’s how it should be for everything💕

[@docyukiohattori]

i really enjoyed the noise but i might not have appreciated it without his warning

[@gspearls7]

@@dyscea thank

[@susannedemaree8703]

I watched this days ago and ordered my drill bits from Amazon. Today I successfully drilled a hole through my pot just like you showed in this video. Thank you so much, I've been wanting to do this for months! 💕

[@solismario1]

This was EXTREMELY helpful!!! My wife and I got a clay pot, a ceramic pot and a glass pot and this technique worked PERFECTLY!!! Thank you!!!!

[@overthemoon9941]

YEAH…🙉😂so excited to try out on ceramic pots tmrw

[@marian1576]

Using water when drilling is for two important reasons. One is to lubricate the process, but the other is to keep ceramic dust from getting in the air and in your lungs. Ceramic dust is very dangerous if inhaled.

[@deniseherud]

I didn’t know that -ty for sharing! I thought water was just to cool the bit-I normally wear a mask bc I’m all about safety lol but it’s good to know why 👍🏻

[@SpaceMissile]

good comment

[@AdamKeele]

Ceramic dust is less toxic than car exhaust or 30 other things we encounter on a daily basis.

[@elainelung1781]

Inhaling ceramic dust can lead to silicosis.

[@sandrastreifel6452]

Ceramic dust is far less hazardous than many inhaled substances, but safer is always better! Hearing and eye protection is vital, using any power tool.

[@marydoogan2486]

Awesome! Gonna try this on bowls from Dollar Tree and coffee mugs that don't get any use. ❤️

[@Toohighfatness]

When using those bits, it works better if you take sticky tack and create a little well and put water in it. The more the bit it is wet the longer it lasts and faster it creates a hole.

[@epicgardening]

Totally, great tip

[@gismygurl]

Just did this to 10 pots!!! I'm so happy! Thank you for this. I got the diamond bit at Home Depot. Worked like a charm.

[@home-ness]

Yeeeess, thank you for this! I have a bunch of really cute discounted pots that need holes And I wasn't sure what type of bit to use, so this was very helpful 😊

[@Lemons19902010]

Just did this and I feel so empowered!😂

[@andreak7001]

I use the same technique, but I also put something (like scrap wood) under the pot to stop the drill from accidentally hitting and cracking the pot when you break through at the end

[@julianalauletta4325]

It worked! Like a charm! I can't believe it! I bought the diamond tipped drill bits months ago and avoided trying this because I was sure I'd break the pots but it was very easy with these instructions. Thank you so much! (For those in the comments suggesting using a piece of tape, I'll note that I used the price sticker as a tape substitute on one pot and it kind of just got drilled into mush. I didn't use tape on the other and it was fine. So I think either way works.) Cheers!!

[@marykater.7169]

This video was a game-changer for me last year. The diamond-tipped bit was perfect. I also used the bit to drill in a statue that I turned into a fountain. The small amount of water was helpful too!

[@shannonsmith7329]

You've TOTALLY just answered my questions for my succulent plants!!! Here I thought I'd get to just stare at the empty ones because they ONLY have 1 drainage hole. Well, my 16yr old told me *Mom, you can't be drilling into the bottom of the planter you'll just do nothing but crack it!* who knows maybe she's right but I have enough sense to smart off with a smallest one I have and work my way up because I've got an aloe vera plant that's got to be repotted because they've been together for like I don't know 5 years and they babies on top of babies on top of babies in this big bad boy lol so thank you for your hard work and your video I thoroughly enjoyed it

[@deniseherud]

Best vid I’ve seen on this topic💗 I’ve tried the Dremmel bit and other techniques but they take forever or the tip dulls b4 u get done and the planter winds up cracking. I bought this hole saw and had two holes in a 24” planter in less time than it took me to buy the bit. Great tut! Now I can put drainage holes in every single ceramic pot I love but never buy bc I couldn’t do holes... A life changing vid for me-which is kinda sad lol but I love ceramic pots but hated that they never had holes...now I’m stoked to go buy tons of them for my plants💗

[@mpignone1713]

I DID it! Thank you Kevin it worked just like your video. I now have 10 garden pots. Thanks to you.

[@dellajones9727]

This video saved a lot of plants and my coins. I was able to repot succulents, orchids, and start a propagate pot all from old pots like these. My husband did them in minutes. Thanks You!

[@RowsOfGreen]

You can use a regular bit but just make sure to put tape down. This is foolproof and you can drill a hole through your window as long as you put duct tape over the area you are drilling

[@pfunkinit]

You should do a video on that. That would be awesome.

[@michaelkenyon3372]

THX FOR INFO I AM BURGLUR AND THIS WILL MAKE MY SCORE WAY EASIER

[@bettybandyk]

@@michaelkenyon3372 😂 I hope you’re kidding

[@michaelkenyon3372]

@@bettybandyk I BURGLE NIGHTLY WITH DRILL

[@kathleenwhite9741]

I've watched people drill holes in glass aquarium panels and they've said not to apply too much pressure, they've all used liquid to clean and lubricant while drilling and some have used like Windex that has a bit of surfactants to help lube the bit some. Great video 👍😁❣️, thanks for sharing!

[@epicgardening]

Yeah totally, the pressure is key

[@bobbieyoder7223]

OM - love this! I ordered the diamond drill bits for my DH and he 'fixed' some glazed pots for me this morning! I am ecstatic. I'm going to use it on coffee mugs - I have some giant ones I use for pencil holders....Thanks so much!!

[@mlang3066]

So nice that you’ve shared this idea. My husband being a contractor knew how to do this years ago, so all my pots have holes.. but not many know the secrets and the correct bits to use..great job!

[@drDopefish]

Those diamond hole saws are AMAZING. The pointy/tungsten bits are slowwww and they wear out after a few uses. The hole saws seem to last forever; the reason they're wearing out for you is you're not using lubrication. Everyone gets these things on Amazon in little ziplocs, but if you got them at the store the instructions would say to use water. Hole saw + water to lubricate + template = ez. This works on glass too.

[@Jess-wu9dx]

I used a ceramic and tile drill bit with water and it worked just as well.

[@marleneolson3008]

This is awesome - thank you for this video. I avoided buying any ceramic pots for this very reason. Now I just need to see if I have those bits.

[@Jertorjon]

You're an awesome teacher. Just tried this using the diamond-tipped drill bit and it worked! Thank you Mr. Epic!

[@debbieescobar6267]

Thank you so much! We asked and you delivered! Now I can fix my pots for healthier outcomes!

[@maxsophiemom]

I've passed so many good deals just because the pots didn't have draining holes. Thank you for the tip!

[@djbgt350]

Worked exactly as you said. Thanks for mentioning the noise; I purchased ear protection as well as the diamond tipped hole saw at the hardware store. Could barely hear it!👍🏻

[@jeannieNYc]

Thank you for showing this. My dad mentioned he was able to drill holes in ceramic pots and I didn’t quite understand even though he told me the same thing as what you demonstrated. Now I understand.

[@tayloraaron8592]

I would just like to sincerely thank you for the volume warning especially when I’m watching with headphones so thank you sir! Also very helpful video and I can’t wait to try on a pot I just got!

[@kelseyscantland1988]

I followed Michael's orchids video for drilling for glass containers and then tried with the Maxx pots and this technique totally works just have to be patient and have a good drill. I use masking tape to help with marking the spot and slipping in the beginning. You can buy nicer bits and they should last longer. 🙂

[@epicgardening]

Yeah I may invest in better ones down the road!

[@matthysloedolff]

So far I've used masonry drill bits for drilling holes in my pots with good success. Keeping the surface area wet is definitely a smart move. It keeps the pot and everything else cool and minimises dust. It appears the diamond tip is a bit quicker than using a masonry bit, so I might use a diamond tip drill bit next time I need to drill a hole in a pot.

[@monaczaplewsli157]

It also would be a good idea spraying the inside of hole with baseball bat gripper spray. Moisture that can seep into an unglazed hole can eventually crack the pot. I have bought some huge cheap pots from department stores for large indoor cacti but had they hadn't been glazed on the inside so I used 2 coats of the spray before potting.

[@KrystalTubbs]

I did this today after picking up some clearance pots for a dollar and not knowing what to do with them. It worked like a charm, thank you!

[@debrahaynes9188]

I was getting ready to repot all of my plants in pots with drainage holes, but was met with " you should not repot in the fall/ winter months" Then I ran across this. happy camper now!!

[@doodahgurlie]

People have already mentioned it below, but a bit of tape similar to Scotch tape or paper tape would help with the sliding around initially. I also saw someone use a 2 liter bottle filled with water and made a pin sized hole in it dribble water on the area when drilling. It was really cool, but I cannot remember which video that was since I watched it a year ago when I was first learning about how to use a drill and driver and learning how to drill into ceramic and glass and such. :)

[@epicgardening]

That's a great idea!

[@andreacrino5221]

Yes! The video I have been waiting for since her TJ max pot haul. So excited to drill holes in all my pots!

[@TheonlyKirindaMarie]

I was SO SCARED. I purchased the diamond drill bits like 2 months ago. I just decided to drill some holes in a pot for my jade bonsai, well IT WORKED! Thank you thank you!

[@janpeterson21]

Thanks! I had placed an order for masonry bits and cancelled to get these. I can’t wait to drill holes in the pots I’ve had for years that I’ve used just for looks, keeping the plant in its plastic pot and sitting it inside. Now I can repot correctly!

[@morgan5929]

Thank you! My local nursery which is the only place I can find to get amazing pots, tends to have a lot without drainage holes. This will be very helpful, so that I don’t have to limit myself to only buying the basic terra-cotta pots. 🙌🏻

[@BerylBerry]

Thank you so much. I was having a hard time getting the hole started and I searched the internet and found your video ! Much appreciated

[@OkieTeacher918]

Excellent video! I love that you used ceramic pots and for doing multiple drainage holes. Thanks the the “turn down the volume” warning!😊

[@KB-qg8wd]

Two suggestions: 1. Wear safety glasses. They are cheap to buy! 2. Using an empty 2-liter bottle, poke one tiny hole in middle of the side. Fill with water (with your finger over the hole you just made), cap immediately. Set bottle beside your pot, loosen the cap and have a continuous tiny stream of water that you can point right to where you are drilling.

[@D.Nies_]

That's so interesting, in my country the decorative pots never have holes in them. You use a thin plastic pot with holes to put inside these pots. Just the clay pots have holes in them and you use them with a saucer.

[@sarahdee374]

I've always been afraid of drilling, and don't like pots without holes. This is great info! I'd add that I think I'd put some type of buffer (maybe a bit of rag or twisted paper towel) around the soon-to-be hole to prevent the drill from hitting and maybe cracking the pot.

[@macrile1784]

I’m off to the dollar store to hoard pots! Thanks so much for this! 😊😊😊

[@xtinecp]

I just found 5 free pots without drainage holes on a Freecycle.org site and wondered how I might adapt them for container gardening and VOILA I googled and your video came up. Thanks for always being there for me to help and encourage my gardening on the cheap!

[@virgenvalentin3017]

So glad I found you. I’ve purchased some pots that don’t have drainage & this is what I thought I could do. Thanks for the tips

[@nicolel.luria-bosie1261]

Thank you so much. This definitely seems like something I feel comfortable doing myself and not asking my husband. Thank you! 💚

[@mrkm7374]

I've used my regular drill bits but I have the sink faucet running over it as I drill. I don't press down hard and I haven't cracked any yet. I think the running water makes all the difference.

[@jasonc422]

thank you for this video! i just watched your tj max, home goods, dollar tree pot videos! i’ve been obsessed with your pothos videos! 💚🌱

[@briana3376]

Thank You! This video was easy to follow and most importantly the tools and technique worked perfectly for me! Now with proper drainage my house plants can finally flourish!

[@laurendao4467]

This was super helpful. I've watched other hole drilling videos, but none were actually as informative with tips like this one. I definitely need to get a different bit than the one I got (masonry) for a diamond-tipped one. Feeling much more confident about trying this now! Thanks!

[@epicgardening]

Glad to hear it helped!

[@Pegg2012]

Thanks for the tutorial :D I tried to drill drainage holes into the metal pots i use outside and did not succeed, i will try again after finding the right bit for that! What I wonder is: Dont you use planting pots in the US? Here in germany its more common to use thin plastic planting pots inside of the ceramic decor pots to give some drainage and not to have to use a saucer for picking up water, the water just stays outside of the inner planting pot and inside of the decor pot. Most gardening store will tell you to get rid of all the extra water if it did not soke back into the planting pot within 30 min after watering. I sometimes use gravel to elevate the planting pot inside the decor pot, its hard to find stuff that fits well sometimes.

[@hopestewart4711]

thank you for the help !!! i was trying to drill holes in some planters for the first time and couldn’t get it to happen until i watched this!

[@JLB0880]

Core sample 😍 Were you a geologist in a past life? This is an awesome video, I like to find/repurpose pots at antique stores, and many of them need this! Thanks for the info.

[@MzEbony_Luvz]

Thank you sooo much for this video, I ended up using my nail drill with the diamond drill bits that came with it. It took some time but I made 3 holes in the bottom of my pot,, they came out good.

[@Wingburner]

Just passed up 3 nice ceramic pots without drainage ... going to get them tomorrow and a diamond tipped hole saw bit ...yay!

[@chadgholson]

A Tip to make this an even better water-cooling experience (ty btw!): 1- Position the guide on the spot to be drilled. 2- Fill the desired sized hole in the guide with water. 3- Start drilling, without moving the guide.

[@iknowdjreflecta]

So helpful! I had been putting the plastic my plants come in INSIDE of a pot because it had no holes 🙇🏻‍♀️ I’m so going to try this method !

[@ronettewalsh7271]

I've been finding fruit bowls at Goodwill, now 7 can make succulent dishes for them. Wide and shallow... Perfect. Thanks 😌

[@MotleyStew]

Hello sir, you don’t need to come at an angle. You can start completely flat at a low speed then you get a nice flush surface (especially since it’s the bottom of the pot, you don’t really want that ‘raised’ edge build up for the angle). Before I even started your video I already knew a tile hole bit was the answer as I’m a flooring specialist at Home Depot... .. But.. if the pot is much larger you can also drill from inside the pot with a little water in it. 😉😏 That way it is submerged in the water.. Especially if it’s a much more dense material than clay.

[@MotleyStew]

I wouldn’t suggest the bit with the spiral as it needs to push the material out from center and is then more susceptible to cracking (it is less of an issue if it’s clay, but even then I wouldn’t recommend it). 🤔

[@luvlife2355]

Ugh...i passed up sooooooo many beautiful inexpensive plant pots because they had no holes. Thanks for this video...going on a planter hunt now.

[@mizkae]

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO! I'm poor and love cute af pots but drainage holes are a requirement. Thank you for showing me how I can have both!

[@drphilphy]

THANKS KEVIN - MY WIFE IS GONNA THINK I AM AWESOME WHEN I DO THIS FOR HER POTS AT THE WEEKEND!

[@sonja2731]

I’ve used a masonry drill bit.... works well and yes, still need to have a bit of water in the center.....love your channel!!!

[@dareka9425]

I bought a drill for a mod I'm doing to my PC and my mom immediately thought I can repair everything and anything in the house. Now I have to learn how to drill some pots for her that were left by my house's previous owner. Just went to a hardware store and there are glass/tile drill bits, diamond holesaw bits and steel holesaw bits. KZbin it is then...

[@Thankful_.]

I’ve needed this video all my plant mama life!!! Thx so much, Kevin! I’m going to buy a glass and tile bit or diamond bit and be well on my way to Turing my discounted flower pots into being FUNCTIONABLE!!! Thx a million-trillion! 💎

[@robertpavlovic7779]

Great info man. Now I need to drill 50 holes

[@JessicaSilva-uu7vi]

I CANT BELIEVE THIS WORKED!

[@pamelanred5053]

I use pretty pots as cover pots for other less attractive pots. The pretty pot without drainage works as a water holder so your floors or patio doesn’t get messy.

[@alexbrumel]

Worked for me! Thanks so much! Bit was around $23 at lowe’s and worked like a charm.

[@nm6818]

Thank you so much. I actually just ordered both the drill bits and the drill. Had the same heavy, chorded drill for years. Over it.

[@PlantingPixels]

Diamond drill bit and water worked like a charm. Thank you!

[@slilly534]

This was insanely helpful, I have been trying to use my basic drill bits for weeks little by little. Thank you so very much!!!

[@alexmorgia200]

Diamond hole bit worked perfectly!

[@sugarmaze]

Good tips!! My first time drilling period..LOL potting succulents needing drainage holes, no breaks or cracks!!

[@adnilgreen1727]

Can you make a video on how to drill holes in glass jars for plants? :)

[@joannecarroll5504]

Thanks for this Kevin. I'm quite a competent DIYer, being an old person & all, but even with the experience of tiling walls etc, I was loathe to use a glass & tile bit as my hand isn't v steady. Think I'll track down some of those hole saw bits instead. Cheers!

[@wacomac]

Even the old bits are good for those non glazed pots. So, don't throw them away. Try them first. Great video.

[@epicgardening]

Thanks David!

[@Jex0003]

“It’s like a little triforce.” When your find someone in the wild with the same overlapping interests. 👌🏻 Fantastic practical instruction, and super helpful; thank you!

[@jy3751]

Your method worked like a charm! I bought a single diamond hole saw bit from Amazon for $10 and followed your instructions. I did it on my deck on top of a rubber mat with holes, which provided grip and easy cleanup with just water. Thank you so much!

[@taylorboyd1333]

Thank you so so much for showing that I have passed up so many pots because they didn't have holes I just ordered a 5 pc set for 9.00 on Amazon

[@MockMessMonster]

Just bought a pot on FB Marketplace and realized it had no drainage hole. Thank you for a simple solution! Now I'm off the the hardware store!

[@incidental74]

Thank you sooooo for this video. I needed this to drill some holes in a pot for my succulents.

[@TonyNguyenFR]

The real question is why aren’t all pots made with drainage holes?

[@chumphrey1065]

Good question

[@munirasultana2313]

What a GREAT info 👌

[@Laylia_]

Thanks so much for this video! successfully drilled a hole into a cute pot perfectly!

[@kathyburks6414]

We were just talking about how to drill holes in pots yesterday! Thanks for the tutorial!

[@tadams7447]

Wow! Great video. Well done. Thanks a bunch. Love you warning about turning the volume down. Very considerate of you.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks - Ive got a few ceramic shallow trays that I wanted to use for bonsai plantings - always been worried about drilling. Cheers off to buy some diamonds now :)

[@erinwagg6132]

Thanks! I’ve drilled holes through cute coffee mugs to make little succulent planters but the drill bits don’t last. Coffee mugs are pretty dense. The diamond hole bits look tougher. Will try that next time!

[@marianneharding3285]

Thank you for the excellent advice. I drilled holes in three pots yesterday. The pots, the drill and I came survived without incident though I think the drill bit (a diamond bit) may need to be retired.

[@cbennett864]

Thanks for the sound warning. I wish everyone was as considerate!

[@jaynecarterwilliams8763]

Thank you so much this was a seriously big help I have a bonsai tree I need to repot and got a beautiful ceramic pot but needed drainage holes Diamondhead thanks

[@sandrabeck8788]

Very nice looking pots. I search thrift shops for hand made little pots, and want to use them for small succulents . Thanks for the video

[@eccentricoldcow]

Brilliant video thanks, Im doing this for my orchids at the side of terracotta pots

[@ritamariekelley4077]

Thanks. I bought an expensive, large terra cotta bonsai pot and haven't used it for years, because there weren't enough holes in it. I didn't know which bits to use.

[@t.s8113]

You are awesome! Thank you for your instructional video. I was afraid to try and put a hole in a succulent pot, but you make it look easy. 😊