Introduction
As a home grower, there are a lot of things to look after. Plant containers or saucers are a worth concern. As many of the growers find difficulties with these, we came here to give a hand in building your own diy plant saucer.
Finding a matching saucer with a plant container is not easy. Moreover, you may find it expensive. Whatever your issue is, do not worry anymore. You can do it yourself on any weekend if you can be instructed properly.
So, here we are, you will find every relevant thing about DIY plant saucer in this article. We also kept a section for why your planter will need a saucer. We summed up the tools and materials you’ll need and the steps you’ll go through.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
Why Does Your Planter Need a Saucer?
Well, as many first-time growers may have a question like ‘what are plant saucers for?’ Here’s the answer. You may know how much proper drainage matters, huh? Yes, proper drainage hugs the chances of keeping proper soil moisture.
And saucers under plants are used to catch the excess water that drains from a container planting. Sometimes growers can be able to find matching pots and saucer sets. But the more common scenario is that containers do not come with one (the saucer must be bought separately).
Not only this but adding a plant saucer beneath your container can be useful in increasing the decorative appeal of potted plants, you won’t want to miss this for sure. Am I fanboying much? Okay, let’s move on to the core of the discussion.
So, here is your DIY project on how to build your own plant saucer. Let’s know the details.
What You’ll Need to Make a DIY Plant Saucer?
Well, you can make a plant saucer using a variety of elements. Like, some of them are made of plastic (which will not be much durable) or cake tins/aluminum cookie sheets (which will be durable but rust inside).
So, here we will show you using mainly a hard foam board and construction adhesive. Let’s see what you are going to need:
- Hard foam board
- Construction adhesive
- Fiber concrete mix
- Concrete sealer
- Water
- Bucket and tool to mix concrete
- Knife
- Sanding paper (80 grit)
After purchasing or managing these tools and materials, go through this series of steps.
Step 1: Cut the Foam Board on Pieces
The first thing you need to do is cut the foam hard foam board with a sharp knife. The measurement should be- 15x15cm, height: 4cm (wall thickness 1cm). Now, use the sandpaper to create a smooth finish to the pieces of foam board.
Step 2: Build the Mold
Build a mold upside down. Your plant saucer is the base of your planter, so, work on it carefully. Use a construction adhesive to glue the pieces together. It’s important to use enough glue so that no water can leak out. Okay? You are done with building the mold.
Step 3: Mix the Fiber Concrete
Using fiber concrete for this project will help you to make it as thin as possible. Mix the fiber concrete with water properly. Wait, before pouring it, cover the mold’s top with some oil.
Step 4: Pour the Concrete
Now, it’s time to pour the concrete and vibrate the mold as much as possible. Wait some time and let the mixture dry enough.
Step 5: Remove the Saucer from the Mold
Do it very, very carefully. Remove the saucer from the mold and look keenly as if the mold doesn’t break down. In case you make any mistake, repair it before using it.
Step 6: Make the Mold Waterproof
After removing, make the mold waterproof. Use a good concrete sealer to make it happen. Making a little waterproof test will help to set aside any struggle to fix this later.
To apply the concrete sealer, using a brush will be a good idea. Worth noting, do it after 24 hours of using the sealer.
Step 7 (Optional): Paint the Saucer
This is optional. You can paint the saucer with acrylic paint. Some of the growers don’t take the decorations seriously. If you are not one of them, you should handle this step. Once you’re done with painting, it will look amazing. But wait a couple of weeks to paint the saucer (it should be dry enough before painting).
Eureka! You’re done with building your own plant saucer.
Warning
Don’t forget to wear gloves and a dust mask to keep the chance of a bad experience not in the slightest.
DIY Plant Saucer – FAQs
Question: Can I fill the saucer with rocks?
Answer: You certainly can. Use pretty rocks, marbles or glass and celebrate their union. In fact, it’s easy as well as looks good.
Question: Do I need a saucer if my planter is a Cachepot?
Answer: No, you don’t. Cachepots have excellent drainage.
Question: When can I paint my saucers?
Answer: Well, you need to wait at least for one week. Saucers need to cure/dry properly before you can paint them. Worth noting, prefer wood saints for concrete projects.
Question: What if I reuse tins/aluminum sheets and make a saucer with this?
Answer: Well, you can do it. But as they will rust inside, you have to replace them frequently.
Conclusion
Thank you if you are still with us. Could we be able to make sense of the whole process? We hope the answer is yes, as we left no stone unturned to make you understand.
As it’s a DIY project, you should be very careful at every step, don’t forget to practice ‘safety first’ (must wear gloves and mask). After done with it, take care of the saucer from the beginning, it will be durable.
So, you now completely know everything about DIY plant saucer, such as, why and how you will build one of yours. So, you should not think of it anymore, just go for it.
Good luck!
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