How to Seal a Drainage hole in a Ceramic Pot

Ceramic Pots How To by gardenponds

Ceramic Pots make wonderful Water Gardens, bringing the serenity of a pond to you without the expense.  95% of ceramic pots made have holes in them for drainage, worry not because these holes can be sealed relatively easily, though not all ceramic pots are created equal. For best results make sure to use a Chinese or Vietnamese High fire Ceramic pots.  

What you need

  • 1/4 Cup Ceramic Cement

  • 1 quart zip-lock bag

  • Duct tape

  • Water

  • Paper towels/damp cloth

Step 1

Turn the pot upside down and cross 2 pieces of duct tape over the hole   (Make sure bottom of pot is dry before applying duct tape.)

Step 2

Flip the pot right side up 

Dampen hole and small area inside the bottom of the pot.

Step 3

Mix hydraulic cement in small qt bag to a tooth paste consistency or (slightly) runnier.  Best to do small batches since it sets up so fast

Step 4

Cut corner of bag and squeeze out like pastry bag, patting out air bubbles as you pack the hole and create a mushroom shape plug. ( Dome should be ¼ – ½ inches wider than hole) Clean up any drips with a damp cloth.

Step 5

After 15 minutes check on the curing process.  Dampen and smooth mushroom cap to prevent cracking and create a finished look.

Finish

After 3 hours Fill pot with water and test for leaks.  Leave filled for at least 24 hours and check water level. (if your pot is leaking then you might need to do a full seal in the inside of the Pot. Read about that process here.

For Best Results

Do not seal hole in direct sunlight (sunlight can lead to cracking and the concrete setting up to quickly)

The quicker you use the cement the better it works.

Clean the bottom of the pot and making sure it is dry before Applying Duct tape which makes for a better seal. 

If the bottom of the ceramic pot is concave then applying paper towel or other fill material between the duct tape and ground when you flip it over can give more pressure to the duct tape creating a better plug. 

If you have cracking then do 2nd coat following same steps with new mixture.

5 comments

  1. Mike S

    Guess there’s no way around the cement. Thanks for this post, need to fix at least two old ceramic pots in the countryhouse.

  3. Janice Christine Strubbe Wittenberg

    Thanks for this but does this product work for food grade cookware, too?

    1. gardenponds

      aloha, I would not consider hydraulic cement food grade though it would work to seal the hole.

  4. gardenponds

    Silicone can work as well as just a good old wine cork. may leak a little but they can work the hydraulic cement is just a long term solution and what we suggest here at Garden Ponds.

    Jake

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