How To Reuse K-Cups As A DIY Hummingbird Water Fountain

Isn't there something magical about having tiny, fluttering visitors like hummingbirds turning your garden into their playground? It almost feels like your backyard's missing a beat without them. These little aerial acrobats aren't just a joy to watch as they dart and dive — they're also doing your garden a solid by munching on unwanted insects and cross-pollinating your plants. Now, if you're wondering how to attract hummingbirds to your garden, have you given thought to the allure of a simple water fountain? Yes, hummingbirds are suckers for a good splash and burble of water. But did you know you can whip up a water fountain that's a hit with feathered friends with a reused K-cup filled with water by a solar pump kit?

Most of the supplies for this project are readily available in your home. The big ticket item here would be a solar water pump kit — but even that won't have you digging too deep into your pocket. For example, the AISTIN DIY Solar Water Pump Kit will set you back merely $10 on Amazon. Plus, for what you'd shell out on a single store-bought solar-powered water fountain, you could DIY four or five hummingbird water fountains. The beauty of it? It's an easy and affordable win for your garden aesthetics. And here's the kicker: you can knock this project out in less than a couple of hours over the weekend. Talk about a bang-for-your-buck garden upgrade.

For this DIY water fountain to attract hummingbirds to your yard, peek into your coffee corner for some K-cups and straws. You'll need other bits, too: a plastic shoe box, soldering iron, skewers, glue, and scissors. Now, play a little game of precision with the shoebox lid by drilling holes in its corners. Then, slide a skewer through each hole for that extra bit of stability. But plot twist: flip the lid upside down so the water spilling over the cup is caught by the shoe box. Here's where it gets techy. With the soldering iron, you are going to drill holes aplenty in the lid. These aren't for looks; they're escape routes for the water back into the shoebox. 

At the center of the lid, puncture a hole that will snugly fit the straw. Next, sit the pump in the shoe box, with a straw connector threaded into the gadget's outlet. Now, for the K-cup transformation from a coffee holder to a bubbler. Simply poke a straw-sized hole at its bottom. Wiggle the straw through, making sure it doesn't stick out the cup's top like a sore thumb. After all, you want a filling element, not a geyser. Got a gap around the straw? A glue gun is your friend. From there, load up the shoebox with water, then connect the pump tubing to the K-cup straw. The mini solar panel should be catching some rays outside of the shoebox.

Are you in a spot where the sun is a bit stingy? That's where a power-bank-powered water pump like the Teamson Home Water Pump (Amazon) is a game-changer compared to a solar-powered one. Instead of a straw, just pop in some tubing. Plus, don't sweat waiting for the glue on the K-cup to dry — running cold water over the setup does the trick. Decorative elements will infuse a personal touch into your DIY backyard water feature. For instance, you could glue small pebbles to the bottom part of the K-cup. Or perhaps slap on the shoebox appropriately themed stick-and-peel decals. However, don't get so carried away with decoration that your fountain becomes a heavyweight. 

Now, if you're thinking about setting your hummingbird water fountain next to marigolds, lilacs, or Lily of the Valley, think again. While these flowers can be showy, hummingbirds aren't fans of them. So, pick a spot that's visible and accessible, maybe near nectar-rich plants like lantanas, pentas, and bee balm, which are sure to attract these busy birds. You know what else could benefit your DIY water fountain? Over time, the K-cup and shoebox will get all junked up with stuff and algae. So, you will want to plan to give these parts a good scrubbing with hot water and a brush. Also, avoid placing the fountain in direct sunlight for too long to keep pesky algae in check.