Maintaining a beautiful, thriving garden is challenging enough, but attracting butterflies, bees, moths, and other pollinators to your garden is an art form in and of itself. Sometimes, it can seem impossible to make these beneficial bugs stop by, no matter how many fragrant flowers you plant. If you want to bring more pollinators and birds into your garden, you may be missing one crucial element: a water source. While they may be good for birds and squirrels, ordinary birdbaths and water fountains can be tricky for smaller critters to access without getting soaked. Butterflies, bees, and other helpful garden insects may struggle to drink from an ordinary birdbath or water fountain, especially if the water is full or constantly moving. In the wild, they’ll usually land near the edge of a mud puddle to get a sip of precious hydration.
Luckily, a TikTok hack shared by @wildchild93x shows how you can build a bug-friendly water dish with just a few items from your local dollar store. By creating this shallow hanging watering tray with plenty of dry glass pebbles, you give pollinators a safe place to land without wetting their delicate wings. Plus, other wildlife can drink from the water dish, too, and the arrival of tempting insects will draw in birds!
A marble plate provides safe hydration
@wildchild93x
Super easy butterfly or bird water dish. Hang up in your garden to attract more butterflies. #dollartreediy #savethemonarchs #butterflies #savethebees #water #birdbath #firefly
♬ original sound – user4381811053883
According to the TikTok video, all you’ll need to make the bug fountain is a plate, a bag of decorative glass beads, and a plastic hanging planter. Constructing the pollinator water station is remarkably easy. Start by adding as many glass beads as you can to the plate, creating a layer about two beads thick. Next, set the plate over the opening of your hanging planter. The plate should be large enough to balance on the rim without dropping to the bottom, but not so large that it interferes with the hanging ropes. Hang your planter where you want it in the garden, then add water to the dish, leaving some of the glass beads exposed.
That’s all you have to do to create a water station for butterflies, moths, bees, dragonflies, and other delightful garden visitors! Because the water is in a shallow dish, it may evaporate faster than a normal birdbath or fountain, so remember to refill it every time you step outdoors to water your garden. To ensure that the water stays clean and free from mosquito larvae, be sure to drain and rinse the beads every two to three days before adding fresh water.
