ENN: Environmental News Network [[ ENN Garden Tutorials ]]
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What you need:
This soothing and decorative bamboo fountain can be the centerpiece of your home or patio. It’s easy to assemble with a few inexpensive components and a length of thick bamboo. |
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| First, use a bamboo saw or hacksaw to cut the bamboo into two sections for the fountain head. Cut one piece to about 12-18″ long, with 2-3 growth rings. Cut the other piece to about 4-5″ long, with 1 growth ring. Cut diagonally across the open end of the small piece at a 45-degree angle. |
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| Next, drill a ” hole through the top layer of both pieces of bamboo. On the longer piece of bamboo, drill the hole just below the top growth ring. On the smaller piece, drill the hole roughly in the center. |
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| Growth rings form solid partitions separating the hollow portions of bamboo cane. To allow water to flow freely through the bamboo, puncture any solid partitions below the hole you drilled. Insert a 12″ nail into the cane and tap it on a hard surface. |
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| To create a snug fit between the pump and the bamboo, insert a collar into the bottom of the cane. A threaded 2″ sprinkler riser with an inside diameter of ” works well for this. Apply epoxy to the riser before inserting it. |
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| Next, insert a piece of clear tubing with an outside diameter of 5/8″ into the riser. Epoxy it as well. The fit should be snug; you want to ensure it can’t slip out. |
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| Insert a ” long section of 5/8″ outside diameter clear tubing half into the hole in the larger piece of bamboo. A very snug fit is required here. |
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| Smear epoxy around the tubing, then press the two pieces together while orientating the smaller piece with the open end facing slightly downward. Allow the epoxy to set before continuing. |
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| Next, attach the bamboo to the pump. Use a pump of no more than 60 gph capacity or the water flow will be too strong. |
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| Set the pump and the fountain head into a large ceramic urn. Half fill the urn with water and plug in the pump. Adjust the flow so the stream of water falls inside the urn. |
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| Once you find a satisfactory setting for the pump, remove it from the urn. Insert the bamboo through a large, shallow ceramic pot with a drainage hole large enough to accommodate it. Attach the pump to the bamboo, but don’t use epoxy so you can replace the pump if it fails. The pot reduces the rock needed to hide the pump. |
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| Set the pump, pot, and fountain head into the urn and fill around them with decorative rocks. Plug in the pump and you’re done. |