How To Waterproof Your Plant Pots [5 Minute DIY]

 Raise your hand if you've ever lifted a saucer or indoor plant pot to discover a water ring on the surface of your furniture underneath.  I've experienced it more times than I care to admit, so a long time ago, I devised a straightforward DIY that I'd like to share with you for moisture-proofing my pots' bottoms. 

My straightforward DIY will protect your furniture while also repurposing the terrible styrofoam, which would otherwise wind up in a landfill. 

Water can sometimes still leak through a pot or saucer's protecting pads and glaze on the bottom. Yes, I've been shocked when I've lifted pots for watering thinking the bottoms were "safe" and, surprise! discovered a ring on one of my pieces of furniture.

WATERPROOFING MATERIALS FOR POT

Your saucer or planter

meat or produce trays made of foam 

craft adhesive

Pencil or another object with a sharp edge that can cut styrofoam

Scissors

I now collect those styrofoam trays from the trash, especially the white or black ones because they match most of my pots better. I recently discovered three XL-sized steak containers from Costco ready to be disposed of in the landfill in my mother's trash. They were quickly removed, washed, and taken home. 

DIY PLANT WATER-PROOFING

Draw an outline with a pen or pencil around the saucer or pot by setting it on top of the styrofoam. Polystyrene is soft, so drawing an outline isn't necessary; all you need is a pointed edge to score the outline of the pot or saucer. 

Polystyrene should be cut out with scissors along the drawn outline's inside edge. You will get a better fit if you cut just within the line because the outline is already a little larger than you need.

See how it fits by setting the pot or saucer on top of your styrofoam circle. As needed, trim. 

Place the pot on your styrofoam circle after adding glue to it. Make sure the styrofoam and the saucer fit together snugly. Allow it to sit until it dries.  

Put the saucer back under the planter or put the plant back in the pot, whichever you want. 

I merely have to go through my collection of indoor plant pots and adhere Styrofoam to each and every container. (Well, that would take some time:) It is now time to dash to the market to get more meat and produce.

If you give it a try, please leave a comment below to let me know how it went.