How to make Drainage Holes in your Planters | Drilling 101

EDIT!!!!!
Shout out too Vanessa Lumbra who actually told me to place a piece of masking tape down so it doesn’t slide around (genius) and try drilling straight down. So try that method too! You may struggle less than I did! 🤣🤣🤣

I'm telling ya, I'm such a pro at this. LOL!
If you'd like a good laugh, watch my "how too" video. :)

Now excuse me while I go drill holes in EVERYTHING.....

Planters purchased from IKEA & Marshalls

Drill Bits:

My drill:

My watering can:

[annetteprice]

Great video. I learned more from watching you struggle a bit at the beginning than four previous videos I watched where they made it look too easy. Thank you!

[Spikedsoymilk]

I probably watched five or so YouTube videos showing how to drill drainage holes and they were all edited to make it look so easy. And I kept thinking to myself, "No way is it that simple." I am so appreciative of this real video so I can actually see what I should expect when trying this out.

[marieandruby]

I've watched numerous videos on how to drill pots but have always been too scared to try it. Watching the trouble you first had and then overcame has given me the push to try it. Thanks!

[hollyhasegawa]

Wow, it's not as easy as some YouTubers make it look, but it is a necessary thing, we need drainage holes in our pots unless we are just using them as a cache pot, which I do with some of my plants, but not all of them, if I happen to pot up a plant in a pot without a drainage hole I'm just super careful to not overwater the plant, and that's where my water meter comes in handy, at least it has so far. I think also if you have a second person to hold the pot to keep it from slipping, or some sort of container or mat to keep it contained especially if you're drilling indoors. I'm just glad you can show us the reality of drilling drainage holes. I just think everyone has to find their groove and comfort zone and then just go for it. Thank you Nicole, this was a really good video, now I'm going to get some of those frill bits and start drilling my pots.

[sharfinbean]

Lol you made my day, I got a good laugh on your first few attempts! Good job, I’m going to get some of those

[anothernight]

*This is long, and why I rarely comment.* 😂🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

I’m so proud of you! Good job! I recently decided to be brave and drill holes into my plant pots. I was so afraid of breaking them! It was great to see you show even the learning curve in the process! Some people put a piece of tape like painter’s tape to help the drill bit not skid so much because painter’s tape is removable without leaving gummy residue. Also, some bundle up some kind of cloth and have the planter in the middle of it to keep the planter from wobbling.

I *sometimes* I use an old pizza pan on the floor next to a wall (to contain the mess and liquid since I was drilling indoors) and places a Dollar Tree shelf liner (the nonskid ones) on the pan to lessen the wobbling of my plant pots.

*Other times* I’d just have the plant pot on a Dollar Tree tablecloth on the floor surrounding the pot for less dust to fly around me and have a fan on, start drilling the plant pot while having my bent leg/knee hold it against the wall while sitting on the floor.

*When I make the hole a little off center* , I use a smaller diamond drill bit to make a hole a little away from the first hole like this
*•o•* to camouflage my mistake and give more aeration and drainage to plant roots, especially for the cactus and succulent-like plants.

*I also drilled* some like the 5 on dice. The same position as the dots with the center one being the bigger hole and the other dots being smaller.

I got a 3/pc diamond drill bit set on Amazon a few months ago, but got the courage within the last week to use them. Lol *The deal you got seems much better* because yours came with so many different size bits and it was about $4-$5 cheaper than what I paid! 😱

[reneeallen]

I'm so going to try this. Marshalls is my favorite place to buy pots. Afordable and cute. Thanks for sharing. Much love and many blessings.

[JimMeeker]

A rubber mat on the table works well for this. Also, if you reverse the rotation on the drill it sometimes helps.

[michellevalente]

Love it! Thanks for let the dificult part in The edition! Than we are prepared to happend to US. ❤️😘😘😘Cute planters!

[debihediger]

Besides putting an old folded towel down on the table, I helped hold the pots down or he would hold it and let e drill the holes. I’ve even done the metal buckets but us a regular drill bit for them. I’ve found a lot of different pots at Thrift stores as well. Thanks for doing a glass container, I’ve wondered how that would be to drill. GREAT JOB GIRL!!! THanks...too!

[deborahchristmas]

So simple! Very satisfying to watch. Thanks for the demo. Now I feel like I could do this, for sure.
And I've never seen you in THAT t-shirt before--Reading Rainbow! I used to love that show!

[sandreawhite]

That was awesome I love this video. I’m gonna go order that drill bit kit. I’ve got a drill already and I’ve got some beautiful pots that I’m gonna be using now. I love the fact that you did not make this a perfect video. In other words we got to see your struggles with it because you were the experiencing the struggles we would have encountered. We watched you and learned from you. This is one the most valuable video I’ve watched

[elizabethgreco-nieves]

I love this video, it’s so real lol
I was the same way at first using the drill for making holes
It’s a learning process for sure, thanks for sharing
Good morning 🌞

[mariadurch]

I just did this with my pots & I was laughing while watching you cause it was experiencing the same exact thing when I first got started but after you get a hang of it it's really easy. Enjoyed watching your video. Thank you for sharing!

[Naturallyorz]

Hey you got the job done!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I use scrap or sample pieces of carpet to sit my pots on as I drill. Also if you drill straight up and down, no tilt and apply a little pressure, it takes some of the slippage of the bit away. The also have diamond bits in the shape of a spade, those are much easier to work with.

[zanyzana]

Oh gosh, thanks for the laugh! It reminded me of my first time. There’s a definite knack to it. I am so impressed that you tried on glass, I’ve been far too scared to try glass! You are brave girl!

[debihediger]

My husband had me put a folded towel down on the table and I held the pots in place...that helped a lot..!

[tonyaglover]

OMG, that was a funny video! I use the drill bits that has a point on the end of them.  No worries you will soon get the nac of it... I had issues in the beginning also.  Nice pots :)

[sandreawhite]

I just ordered the bits. They will be here tomorrow.

[nataliaflor]

you are amazing! I can see myself doing this too :) great job!