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bunging up / sealing drainage holes in plastic pot? Water butt usage.

TJ666TJ666 Posts: 18
in Tools and techniques
Has anyone tried sealing holes in a plastic planter / pot ?  Even if you've tried and failed let me know.  It looks like plastic pots can be polypropylene or HDPE.  This is for an outdoor pot, which looks like good  quality (old, with scrapes, but no sign of cracking) so I assume has been UV stabilised.  I was thinking of taping underneath with a quality building tape (Tescon), then silicone sealant then tape on the top.

The purpose is as a dunking pot.  We've just fitted a new water butt. I used to dunk my watering can from the top , but the new butt is too tall.  So the plan is to use a smaller pot (which I already have and fits a watering can).  This can be filling with water as I water the greenhouse , but will take a fraction of a second for me to dunk into.

I can't be the only person who is a tad impatient when watering by can.  The long term solution may be a cistern ball valve arrangement, which would need a square edged dunking trough ( to buy) and may be more maintenance in the long term (and ugly).

Thanks for your thoughts.


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Posts

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,315
    Sugru?
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 804
    Have you got a pic of what you're trying to seal?
    It may be easier to put a step next to the butt so you can reach it.....
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 22,631
    What about a bucket?
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,351
    Yes, Sugru or silicone sealer
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 9,602
    Or get a second watering can - leave one filling from the butt tap (turn it half-off if it's too fast on full) while you water with the other.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • GravelEaterGravelEater Posts: 123
    If you must fill holes in something that gets wet:

    CT1 is like silicone, but isn't.  It can be applied when wet, used to bond mirrors (non-reactive), brick, wood, metal and plastic.  It's allows movement in itself (is that 'high modus'?).  Grab some bits of plastic big enough to cover the holes and use CT1 to bond it, or if small enough just use multiple applications of CT1 to fill the hole.

    I've only used the clear one, which goes white when wet.  Apparently the white one goes yellow over time, unlike decent silicone like Dow/Corning.

    Although CT1 might be more expensive for comparable sized tubes than other silicones, at least it doesn't dry out quickly.  I've covered the nozzle with cling film and masking tape.  Only have to throw out an inch-long plug and the rest is good to go.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,460
    Surely there's no shortage of plastic buckets, such as those that hold 50 fat balls for bird feeders or 10 litres of paint?  
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,315
    edited October 2022
    No shortage of all sorts of containers, but the OP wants to seal a hole. 🫤
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • TJ666TJ666 Posts: 18
    Thanks, the short term solution is a gorilla tub, but I was thinking it wouldn't last too long being out in the sun all day, everyday.  Also, its not as nice looking at the planter I was thinking of using.  I was trying to upgrade my garden from looking like a tip, to something a bit nicer.  I'll add a pic.
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 570
    I've used Milliput to seal holes before - depends how big the hole is - you might glue in a piece of plastic inside over the hole using CT1 or milliput
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