Bees are amazing and we need to look after them as nothing survives without our little pollinator friends cheerfully buzzing away.
The easiest way to help is by giving them a safe fresh water supply.
Why not build one of the DIY bee watering stations below?
Pollinator watering stations can be made using many different items so hopefully you will be inspired to create one today.
Creative Bee Watering Stations by Material – DIY Ideas for Every Style
Creating a bee watering station is a simple and rewarding way to support these essential pollinators in your garden.
Not only do these water stations provide much-needed hydration for bees, but they also enhance the aesthetic of your bee-friendly garden.
Whether you’re using ceramic, mason jars, or natural materials like clay and shells, there’s a DIY bee watering station idea for every style.
Let’s explore some creative options to help you design a pollinator water station that suits your garden and attracts bees.
2 Pack Floating Bee Ladder
- Designed to attract bees with beehive shape
- Provides a safe landing platform at water stations
- Durable, rust-resistant garden decoration
1. Ceramic Bee Watering Stations
Creating a ceramic bee watering station is a chic and effortless way to support your buzzing garden visitors.
Not only is this project a breeze to complete, but it also adds a touch of elegance to your outdoor space, making it as unique and vibrant as the bees it serves.
Personalize it to match your garden’s aesthetic, and watch as it becomes a beautiful focal point that attracts both bees and admiration.
Items Needed:
- A shallow ceramic dish or plate
- A few small, smooth stones or marbles
- Clean water
Instructions:
- Choose Your Ceramic Dish: Select a shallow ceramic dish or plate. This will be the base of your bee watering station. The dish should be wide enough to hold several bees at once but shallow enough to prevent them from drowning.
- Add Stones or Marbles: Place small, smooth stones or marbles in the dish. These will provide bees with a safe place to land while they drink. Arrange them evenly across the bottom of the dish.
- Fill with Water: Pour clean water into the dish until it covers about 3/4 of the stones or marbles. We want to make sure the water level is low enough so that the bees can easily access it without getting submerged.
- Place in Your Garden: Find a sunny, quiet spot in your garden to place your bee watering station. Ideally, it should be near flowering plants that attract bees, ensuring they can find the water easily.
- Maintain: Check the water station every couple of days, especially on hot days, to ensure it stays filled with fresh water. You might also want to clean the dish occasionally to prevent algae growth.
This simple ceramic bee watering station is both functional and attractive, making it a perfect addition to any bee-friendly garden.
Ceramic Bowl for Feeding and Watering Bees
- Provides water for bees and insects
- Includes 80 glass marbles and 1 ceramic bowl
- Decorative and functional garden accessory
2. Clay and Mosaic Bee Watering Stations
Clay and mosaic materials provide a natural and artistic touch to your garden, making your bee watering station both functional and visually appealing.
This project allows you to get creative with colors and patterns while providing a reliable water source for bees.
Items Needed:
- A shallow clay pot saucer (or a mosaic-tiled dish)
- Mosaic tiles (optional, if you want to create your own design)
- Tile adhesive (optional, for mosaic work)
- Small, smooth stones or marbles
- Clean water
Instructions:
- Prepare the Clay Saucer: Start with a shallow clay pot saucer, which will serve as the base of your bee watering station. If you’re using a mosaic-tiled dish, skip to step 3.
- Create the Mosaic (Optional): If you want to add a decorative mosaic design, arrange your mosaic tiles on the clay saucer in your desired pattern. Use tile adhesive to secure the tiles in place. Let the adhesive dry completely before proceeding.
- Add Stones or Marbles: Place small, smooth stones or marbles on the bottom of the clay saucer or mosaic dish. These will give bees a safe landing spot to drink water without risk of drowning.
- Fill with Water: Pour clean water into the saucer or dish, filling it just enough to not quite cover the stones or marbles. Ensuring the water level is shallow enough for the bees to access it easily.
- Position in Your Garden: Place the watering station in a sunny and accessible spot within your bee-friendly garden. It’s best to position it near flowering plants where bees are likely to gather.
- Maintain the Station: Check the water level daily, especially during hot weather, and refill as needed. Clean the saucer or dish periodically to prevent algae buildup and keep the water fresh.
This Clay and Mosaic Bee Watering Station is not only practical but also adds an artistic touch to your garden, reflecting your creativity and care for pollinators.
3. Mason Jar Bee Watering Stations
Mason jars are a versatile and charming option for creating a bee watering station. This DIY project is quick, easy, and adds a rustic touch to your bee-friendly garden.
Perfect for upcycling, this method also helps reduce waste while supporting local pollinators.
Items Needed:
- A Mason jar with a lid
- A shallow dish or saucer
- A small piece of mesh or fine cloth (optional)
- Small, smooth stones or marbles
- Clean water
Instructions:
- Prepare the Mason Jar: Start by filling the Mason jar with clean water. Screw the lid on tightly. If you want to control the water flow, you can place a small piece of mesh or fine cloth between the jar and the lid before sealing it.
- Position the Mason Jar: Invert the filled Mason jar over a shallow dish or saucer. The water will gradually seep out from the jar and fill the dish. Ensure that the water flows slowly; you may need to adjust the lid slightly if the flow is too fast or too slow.
- Add Stones or Marbles: Place small, smooth stones or marbles in the dish around the mouth of the jar. These will provide bees with safe landing spots to access the water.
- Set Up in Your Garden: Find a suitable spot in your garden where the bees will easily find the water station. A sunny area near flowering plants or other bee feeders is ideal.
- Maintain the Station: Check the water level regularly and refill the Mason jar as needed. Ensure that the dish remains clean and free from debris to keep the water fresh for the bees.
This mason jar bee watering station is an excellent option for those who love simple, rustic DIY projects.
It’s functional, eco-friendly, and a great way to upcycle materials while helping out the bees in your garden.
Tributary Brands Bee Waterer for Mason Jar
- Connects to regular mouth mason jars
- Unique hex groove design prevents submersion
- Available in bee-friendly colors: Grey, Teal, Yellow
4. Marble and Shell Bee Watering Stations
A marble and shell bee watering station adds a touch of coastal charm to your garden while providing a safe and stylish water source for bees.
This project is simple to make and can be a fun activity to do with kids, making your garden both bee-friendly and visually appealing.
Items Needed:
- A shallow dish or tray (ceramic, glass, or any weather-resistant material)
- Smooth marbles or glass beads
- Small seashells
- Clean water
Instructions:
- Choose Your Dish: Select a shallow dish or tray that will serve as the base of your bee watering station. It should be wide and shallow enough to hold water without being too deep for the bees.
- Arrange Marbles and Shells: Place smooth marbles and small seashells in the dish. Spread them out evenly across the bottom, ensuring that there are enough surfaces for bees to land on safely without risking drowning.
- Add Water: Pour clean water into the dish, enough to cover nearly all of the marbles and shells. The water level should allow the tops of the marbles and shells to remain exposed so bees can easily easily land on them.
- Position in Your Garden: Place the marble and shell watering station in a sunny area of your garden, preferably near flowers or plants that attract bees. This will make it easier for bees to find and use the station.
- Maintain the Station: Regularly check the water level, especially during hot weather, and refill as needed. Clean the dish periodically to keep it free of algae and debris, ensuring a safe water source for the bees.
This marble and shell bee watering station is not only functional but also adds a decorative element to your garden.
It’s a perfect project for creating a beautiful, bee-friendly space that even kids will enjoy helping with.
5. DIY and Upcycled Bee Watering Stations
For the eco-conscious gardener, creating a bee watering station from upcycled materials is both sustainable and stylish.
This project allows you to repurpose household items into a functional water source for bees, adding a unique touch to your garden while reducing waste.
Items Needed:
- An upcycled shallow dish, plate, or small bowl (old kitchenware, saucers, or bird feeders work great)
- Small, smooth stones or marbles
- Clean water
- Optional: Paint or decorations for personalization
Instructions:
- Select Your Upcycled Container: Look around your home for an old dish, plate, or small bowl that you no longer use. This will serve as the base of your bee watering station. If you want to personalize it, consider painting or decorating the container before you begin.
- Add Stones or Marbles: Place small, smooth stones or marbles in the dish. These will provide a safe landing spot for bees, allowing them to drink without the risk of drowning.
- Fill with Water: Pour clean water into the dish, just enough to almost cover the stones or marbles. The water level should leave the tops of the stones exposed, giving the bees easy access.
- Place in Your Garden: Find a spot in your garden where the bees are likely to visit, such as near flowering plants or other pollinator-friendly areas. Position your upcycled watering station in this location.
- Maintain the Station: Check the water level daily, particularly on hot days, and refill as needed. Keep the dish clean to ensure the water remains fresh and safe for the bees.
This DIY and upcycled bee watering station is a fantastic way to give new life to old items while supporting local pollinators.
Not only does it help create a bee-friendly garden, but it also encourages sustainability through creative reuse.
6. Hanging and Decorative Bee Watering Stations
Hanging and decorative bee watering stations are perfect for adding a touch of whimsy and functionality to small spaces or urban gardens.
These stations are easy to set up, visually appealing, and can be customized to match your garden’s aesthetic while providing a vital water source for bees.
Items Needed:
- A small container (teacups, small bowls, or even small plant pots work well)
- String, wire, or sturdy twine for hanging
- Small, smooth stones or marbles
- Clean water
- Optional: Paint or decorations for personalization
Instructions:
- Choose Your Container: Select a small, lightweight container that you can easily hang. Teacups, small bowls, or even small plant pots make great options. If you’d like, you can decorate the container with paint or other embellishments to give it a personalized touch.
- Prepare for Hanging: Attach string, wire, or sturdy twine to the container to create a hanger. Secure it firmly so that it can support the weight of the container when filled with water and stones. You can create a single hanging point or use multiple strings for added stability.
- Add Stones or Marbles: Place small, smooth stones or marbles in the bottom of the container. These will give the bees a safe spot to land as they drink. The stones should be evenly distributed to ensure stability.
- Fill with Water: Pour clean water into the container, just enough to almost cover the stones or marbles. The water level should leave some stones still exposed above the water for the bees to land on.
- Hang in Your Garden: Find a suitable location in your garden to hang the water station. Choose a spot that’s easily accessible to bees, such as near flowering plants. Make sure it’s also in a place where you can easily reach it for refilling.
- Maintain the Station: Check the water level regularly, especially during hot weather, and refill as needed. Keep an eye on the stability of the hanging mechanism to ensure it remains secure. Clean the container occasionally to prevent algae buildup.
This hanging and decorative bee watering station is a functional water source for bees but also adds a delightful decorative element to your garden.
It’s an ideal project for those with limited space or for anyone looking to add a creative, floating feature to their outdoor area.
Texsens Bee Watering Station
- Vibrant colors and flower design attract bees
- Includes 40 glass marbles for bee safety
- Versatile use as bee waterer, butterfly puddler, or bird feeder
Want More?
Did you find some inspiration with all the different bee watering station ideas we showed you?
Have you picked one that best suits your garden and living area?
Why not take a look at planting some trees that attract butterflies and bees and take your love of bees and butterflies to the next level.
