DIY Garden Water Fountain

A water fountain can add interest and attract beneficial animals, birds and insects to any garden. Unfortunately, garden fountains are expensive and sometimes too heavy or too large to be kept on small patios and decks. But with two Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts you can convert two pots into a garden water fountain you can be proud of that will not only provide a soothing sound but one that can attract beneficial birds and insects to your garden paradise at a fraction of the cost of garden water fountains you've seen at the home improvement stores.

Supplies you'll need: Two Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts, potting soil, plants and a fountain pump you can find at your local home improvement store.

One of your pots should be larger than the other to act as your base. If your containers have drainage holes you can easily seal them with a bit of aquarium sealant. Place the larger pot on the bottom and place an Ups-A-Daisy planter insert in the middle of the pot.

The second and smaller of your two pots goes on top of the Ups-A-Daisy your just inserted. Thread your water pump through the second Ups-A-Daisy planter insert like in the image to the right. This is the pot that will hold the water make sure to seal this pot so that water doesn't drain down and out to the larger pot.


Once the water pump has been threaded through the Ups-A-Daisy planter insert it should sit on top of the Ups-A-Daisy planter insert like in the photo of the homemade water fountain to the right. You can click on the images of the water fountain to get a larger view. We have the bones of our DIY water fountain project and next well add the gravel, plants and water.






Fill the top, and smaller pot which has been sealed, with either gravel or decorative stones. The stones not only hold the water pump in place but they mask your pump and affect the sound the water makes as it splashes. Add potting soil to the bottom pot so that the Ups-A-Daisy planter insert is covered with an inch of soil all around and then place your plants and fill around their root base. Make sure to fill the smaller pot with the pump inside before you turn on your pump.





Now you can turn your pump on and enjoy your DIY garden water fountain that took you only moments to complete, didn't cost your an arm and a leg and can be moved and disassembled with ease. If you would like to add even more interest and plant variety to your water feature you can fill the smaller pot with water loving plants like papyrus, water hyacinth and lily pads.

Container Gardening Ups-A-Daisy Planter Inserts

Starting a container garden with the Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts is easy and is done in a few steps. A container garden is a great DIY garden project that can add interest and curb appeal to your home, garden, deck or patio and be completed in minutes with the Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts. Start by selecting the pot that best fits your garden or outdoor room decor. The container you choose for your potted garden can be made from fiberglass, terracotta or stone. Select a round and tapered pot with an opening of 12-24 inches. Since we'll be using less potting soil for this garden project don't skimp on the potting soil and buy the best potting mix that you can afford.


The next step involves a simple measurement. About half-way down from the top of your top stretch a measuring tape and measure to the nearest inch. The measurement you get should fall between 10-18 inches. This number will represent the size of the Ups-A-Daisy planter insert you'll need for your pot.






Once you've arrived at the right size for your planter you can easily insert the Ups-A-Daisy planter insert into the pot by placing your fingers into the two larger drainage wholes that have been pre-drilled for your convenience. Press down gently to make sure you've got a snug fit and there aren't any gaps between the Ups-A-Daisy planter insert and the inside of your container.




The Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts come with drainage holes that allow for air to circulate and for water to drain properly. Very little soil will fall through the two larger drainage holes but if you'd like to lessen any soil loss in your potted container; cover the holes. You can cover the drainage holes with a piece of newspaper, cheesecloth or coffee filter. Add enough potting mix to cover the Ups-A-Daisy planter insert and stop at just about an inch from the rim of your pot.



The final step involves you planting your favorite plants and filling in the soil around the root balls and watering. The choice of plants you decide to plant in your container is up to you. The Ups-A-Daisy is not only good for annual and perennial plantings but can be used to create container gardens to grow your own food, potted topiaries & houseplants, tender bulb plantings and even a water feature for your garden. We'll show you a simple DIY project where you can create a fountain with the Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts that not only provides interest but can be used to grow plants and attract birds to your garden or outdoor living spaces. Remember since we didn't have to fill the entire pot with soil it is very easy to move your potted plants around on your deck or patio.

About Ups-A-Daisy Planter Inserts

The Ups-A-Daisy container gardening inserts are made from durable plastic that makes them strong and reusable year after year. No need to hunt down foam peanuts or plastic bottles to add to the bottom of your container every spring. As you can see from the cross-section photograph on the right the Ups-A-Daisy sit in the middle of the pot.

After the cost of the pot, the second biggest cost associated with container gardening is the potting soil that you use. Unless you fill the bottom of the pot with foam peanuts or something else you have to fill the entire pot with potting soil. The Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts reduce the expense of gardening. Since they fit halfway down the pot you use less potting soil in your container gardens. Another benefit is that you can purchase the expensive potting soils mixes instead of skimping and buying the cheaper kinds since you'll need less potting soil than normal.

Unlike using foam peanuts or plastic bottles with the Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts your potting soil will not shift down and settle at the bottom of the pot. A perfectly fitted Ups-A-Daisy planter insert allows for water to drain properly and for air to circulate around the roots of your plants. Good drainage and air circulation are essential to the health of a potted garden and most importantly prevent root rot and yield better plants and blooms.

The Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts not only make container gardening more affordable and cleaner they also make it accessible to older or disabled gardeners. Reducing the weight of the potted planter allows for easy setup and storing of your container garden. You'll also find it easier to lift and move the potted planter around your garden, deck or patio. Rearranging outdoor rooms for parties or large gatherings is a snap when you can easily move your container garden to maximize the available space.

Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts are available in a variety of sizes and work well not only with outdoor container gardens where you can grow annuals, perennials, organic herbs, and potted bulbs but it also works with potted houseplants.

About Ups-A-Daisy Garden Blog

Ups-A-Daisy.com is proud to join the garden blogging community with the addition of this garden blog. The Ups-A-Daisy is a unique and useful garden tool that was born from necessity.

Like many gardeners Kristy Maniscalco found herself dealing with the biggest hassle associated with container gardening. Every spring she would haul her pots from storage and look for items around the house to fill the bottom of the pot with before planting. Traditionally gardeners have filled the lower portion of their pots with items like plastic bottles and foam peanuts. After gardening for 15 years one day Kristy asked her husband Jeff to make her an insert that would raise the bottom of her garden pots so she wouldn't have to fill them with foam peanuts or empty plastic bottles. To Jeff's surprise there wasn't a product like this on the market to deal with the garden dilemma his wife had.

Kristy and Jeff together with her brother Bill and his wife Gina set out to create the first prototypes of the Ups-A-Daisy to solve a problem of container gardeners everywhere. After a few tests and positive feedback from the green thumb gardeners around them Kristy and her team knew they'd created a useful garden tool that would benefit gardeners everywhere. The Ups-A-Daisy is more than a testament to the ingenuity of an avid container gardener, it is proof of what a cohesive family can accomplish when they pool their resources together. The Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts can now be found in garden centers across the U.S and Canada.

In 2004 Kristy and Jeff with the help of Bill and Gina formed Kianga Inc., to manufacture the Ups-A-Daisy planter inserts. Kianga (Kee-ahn-jah) is a Swahili word meaning "sunshine after rain." The name comes from a childhood memory that Kristy holds close to her heart;

"While growing up, my sister Susie and I were standing on opposite sides of the same street. Oddly, it was sunny on my side, but raining on Susie's. From that day on, we nicknamed each other Sunshine and Rain.

Sadly, my sister Susie died of heart disease at the age of 38, shortly before the launch of Ups-A-Daisy. I chose Kianga as the company name in memory of Susie, who had a tremendous impact on her family and everyone she encountered. Susie is also remembered through Daisy - Kianga's lady icon. Susie's favorite "cheap sunglasses" are shown hanging from Daisy's pants."

The Ups-A-Daisy team hopes to make this garden blog not only a showcase of the benefits of the Ups-A-Daisy planter insert and how it can be used in your garden but a resource that provides inspiration and help to the gardening community. Happy Gardening!