Going to Have Pesto

The blue glass container from a yard sale inspired me to finally get out the Dremel and learn how to drill holes in glass.

Those are hydroton "grow rocks" holding up the basil plant.  They are resting inside a drinking glass with drain holes drilled in the bottom. In addition to keeping the basil plant upright, the rocks help oxygenate the plant's roots.   The pink pipe-cleaner handle allows me to periodically lift this glass planter up so that the water drains off, going back splash-free into the pretty blue cylinder.    My planter (that would be the drinking glass filled with rocks) sits on top of a taller drinking glass that just happened to fit perfectly into the blue cylinder.  Basil does not require much nutrition to grow beautifully, but I did add a few drops of General Hydroponics Flora Series liquid nutrients. 

Most of my passive hydroponic planters are made from disposable plastic bottles, but there are advantages to using glass instead.  It is both prettier and easier to clean.

Three secrets to successfully drilling holes in a glass to make hydroponic planters such as this follow:

1)   Wear safety glasses and cover your hands as protection against broken bits and/or glass.

2)   Work slowly and back off to let the bit cool from time to time.

3)   Keep the contact surface wet.  You do NOT want to inhale silicon dust from the glass. 

Harbor Freight had a pack of diamond bits appropriate for drilling through glass for $7.99.  The drinking glasses were $1.59/pack at WalMart.  My beloved two-year old DremelStylus was a gift, but I think it was purchased at Lowe's for $60.  The value of looking at this every day and saying "I made it myself?"  Priceless.