Drilling drainage holes in small 'terracotta' pots

PMBC

Have plastic pots inserted into what look like (cheap) terracotta pots. Plastic has drainage holes but there is a void between them and the base of the terracotta pots. I would like to fill that with single size gravel to give good drainage to the small cactus plants one of which has turned brown on most of the stems.
How to drill the base of the terracotta pots?

Pete67

get a 5 or 6 mm masonry bit and drill slowly, should be no problem.

PMBC

Pete67 wrote: »

get a 5 or 6 mm masonry bit and drill slowly, should be no problem.

Thanks will try that

K.Flyer

Do Not use the "hammer action" or you will shatter the pot.

Teyla Emmagan

Do you need to drill them? I never thought terracotta was waterproof

my3cents

Slightly better than masonary drills which are designed to be used with a hammer action which would obviously break the pot is a glass drill.

I've used a glass drill on glazed posts and it works OK but is slow.

K.Flyer

A fresh masonary bit will go through a clay pot very easily and quickly without need for hammer action as clay pot is a very soft material.

Calahonda52

perhaps
http://www.adverts.ie/hand-tools/hand-drill-with-10mm-chuck/12014358

phelixoflaherty

Push the pot into some sand. will support the entire base whilst drilling.

PMBC

Thanks all.
Great tip to use sand base.