How to Drill a Hole in a Ceramic Pot?

Drainage holes in pots are lungs for the plant roots, helping them to breathe smoothly, but do you know how to drill holes in ceramic pots?

So, if you seek to catch the process of drilling holes in ceramic pots, stand by and learn the methods hereon!

Why Make Drill Holes in Ceramic Pots?

Ceramic pots are safe for houseplants as they don’t react with the potting soil and are free of harmful components.

Furthermore, ceramic pots are more rigid than terracotta or clay pots as they are made at high temperatures.

There are 2 types of ceramic pots available in shops or online forums, glazed and unglazed. Additionally, these ceramic pots come with drainage or drill holes at the bottom.

A bitter truth of scolding I got from my dad when I blocked the holes in one of our plant pots led to a long list of teachings from him about the importance of drainage holes.

• Drainage holes ensure the reach of oxygen to the roots.
• The holes serve to flush the excess fertilizer salts to avoid fertilizer burn.
• Drill holes provide good airflow, making the potting environment fluffy and allowing liberal root growth.

So, you can say that drill holes are like lifesavers for your plants when they feel suffocated.

How Many Holes to Make in a Ceramic Pot?

Just because the drill holes are helpful doesn’t mean that you turn your pot into a chunk of Swiss cheese!

Small ceramic pots 4-12 inches wide require holes of half an inch in diameter. Meanwhile, larger ceramic pots >16 inches wide need holes of at least 1 inch in width.

Most ceramic pots in shops have a large single hole at the bottom. Gardeners prefer two holes about 1/2-1 inch above the pot’s base facing opposite each other.

The holes on the sides allow greater air entry into the soil, and plants can quickly recover from legroom suffocation.

Tools Required to Make Hole in Ceramic Pot

Electric drillers and Carbide-tipped drill bits are popular, but they are less functional than diamond drill bits to drill holes in ceramic pots due to lack of proper reach.

Check below for a few essential tools that will aid you in successfully finishing the deed.

How to Make a Hole in a Ceramic Pot with a Drill?

Follow these easy steps to drill holes in ceramic pots.

• Soak the ceramic pots in sink water overnight or an hour before drilling.
• Grab a power drill and the drill bit of the correct size. Place the pot upside down on a sturdy table or firm garden soil.
• Use a colored sharpie to mark the pot’s base for drilling the holes. Place a small patch of masking tape over the marked areas.
• Get an angle of about 45° to create a small dent and kick off the drill. Once the drill is catching speed, start drilling perpendicularly.

• Increase the drilling speed by gently giving the drill a shove. After piercing all the way, turn off the drill.
• To make a bigger hole, drill along the edges of small holes.
• Repeat the above steps and drill more holes in your pot accordingly.

Drill the holes from the outside to the inside of the glazed ceramic pot to make the job easier.

You can also follow the step-by-step guide video below to get a revision on the process!

How to Make a Hole in a Ceramic Pot without a Drill?

The best way to make a hole in a ceramic pot is to use a power drill.

But, if the drill breaks halfway through the act or you can’t afford a new drill, revert to basic methods. Grab a wooden hammer and a sturdy nail.

• Soak the ceramic pot overnight or an hour before you start drilling.
• Keep the pot upside down on a firm table over a thick, folded cloth.
• Mark the drill points on the base of the pot using a sharpie.
• Hold the nail between your fingers and gently hammer at the point to nick the surface. Continue hammering until the nail pierces the base.
• Add more holes in your pot by repeating the above steps at different points of the pot’s base.

Are your Orchids suffering from watering issues? Maybe providing them with terracotta pots can help them recover from improper watering.

Quick Tips to Consider While Drilling Holes in Ceramic Pots

You can consider some tips while drilling holes in ceramic pots from the chart below.

FAQs About Drilling Holes in Ceramic Pots

How do you Drill a Hole in a Ceramic Pot without Breaking it?

Choose a stable base like a firm table or put a piece of folded cloth below the ceramic pots to drill holes perpendicularly using a power drill.

How do you Drill through Glazed Ceramic Pots?

Glazed Ceramic pots, like all unglazed pots, require soaking in water for steady drilling.

What type of Drill Bit do you use for Ceramic Pots?

Diamond Drill Bits are the best to drill holes in ceramic pots, but you can manually hammer a steel nail to drill the holes after soaking the pots in the water.