DIY Dog Water Bowl Planter: Keep Floors Dry & Plants Watered

Create a functional dog water bowl planter that stops mess and waters plants—using only pet-safe plants and an easy DIY method.

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Every dog owner knows the frustration of having dogs that make a mess as they drink out of their water bowls. Depending on the dog, you may have daily puddles of water by your dog’s water dish, which you might walk through, or even worse, you could slip!

As much as we love our dogs, Toby and Ellie, they can make their fair share of messes. Fortunately, this elevated water bowl planter will position the spilled water to water houseplants instead of spilling all over your kitchen floor.

This easy project provides form and function by keeping your floor dry and sprucing up your dog’s water station area.

How Do You Make A Dog Water Bowl Planter?

As you may have guessed, this is a super simple project. You basically plant indoor plants in a large planter and place the water bowl in the middle.

What made this project a little tricky was finding indoor plants that are not toxic. To my surprise, the vast majority of indoor plants are poisonous to dogs.

I have lots of houseplants, but since these plants will be right by, and possibly in, my dog’s water dish, it’s important that they are dog-friendly.

Best Plants For A DIY Dog Bowl Planter

I did some research and cross-checked against the ASPCA’s official toxic and non-toxic plant list to ensure every plant on this list is truly safe. But remember that even non-toxic plants can cause mild stomach upset if a dog eats a large amount, so keep an eye on curious chewers.

• Ferns (Nephrolepis spp.) – Boston, Kimberly, and Rabbit’s Foot ferns are all ASPCA-listed as non-toxic and love the same moist conditions this planter naturally provides. I used a Kimberly fern in mine.
• Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.) – These low-light blooming plants make surprisingly good houseplants and need soil that stays consistently moist, which fits perfectly next to a water bowl.
• Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – One of the easiest houseplants to grow, and completely non-toxic. A great pick if this is your first pet-safe planter.
• Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) – Comes in white, red, or pink foliage and loves the moist soil this setup provides.
• Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) – Actually thrives on consistent moisture, which makes it one of the better-suited (and prettier) options for this project.
• Hoya (Hoya spp.) – Low-maintenance and non-toxic, though it prefers to dry out a bit between waterings — plant it toward the outer edge, away from the wettest soil near the bowl.
• Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) – Tolerates low light well and adds nice height and texture toward the back of the planter.
• African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) – A sweet pop of color that stays safe for curious noses.
• Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae) – Bold, colorful, and sturdy enough to bounce back if a playful pup bumps the planter.
• Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) – Prefers drier soil, so it’s best planted at the far edge of the planter rather than right against the bowl.
• Air Plant (Tillandsia) – No soil needed at all — tuck one into the pebbles near the bowl for texture without adding more moisture-loving competition.

Supply List – DIY Dog Water Bowl Planter

As an Amazon affiliate, this post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I use and love.

2 Water Bowls – Get two water bowls of the same size because one will stay in the dirt, and the other will be used for water and will nestle in the other one. I recommend stainless steel water bowls over plastic, which you can find at most pet stores or on Amazon. I got these for my two big dogs: Stainless Steel Water Bowls

Large Planter – Either get one without drainage holes or get one with drainage holes and put a pot bottom underneath. Pay attention to the height of the planter so it’s not too awkward for your dog’s height. Metal galvanized tubs are a great choice because they are cheap and waterproof. You can find them at big box stores or Tractor Supply type places.

Well-Draining Soil – I recommend Miracle Grow’s Moisture Control soil because it holds just enough water but not too much.

Dog-Friendly Plants – I got the Kimberly fern and the basket of fuschias at my local Walmart. Fuscias are usually sold at garden stores in early spring, but they actually make great houseplants. I have two of them under my DIY LED plant stand.

Pebbles (Optional)

Halo Grow Light – (Optional) If you can’t situate your planter by a window, click on the link for a great, low-cost option for timed lighting for your plants.

How to Make A DIY Dog Water Bowl Planter Easily

While I was getting everything together, Toby pulled a frond off one of the ferns and started chewing on it. It reaffirmed to me how important it is to use non-toxic plants in this project.

Otherwise, Ellie and Toby were not super helpful during this process.

Step 1 – Assemble Your Dog Bowl With Plants Around It

Put in a little bit of dirt and start planning where you want to put the plants. Take them out of the pots so you can experiment with what arrangement looks best.

I like the idea of putting taller plants toward the back and corners and using shorter plants along the sides of the dog bowl.

Once you have your plants where you want them and at the right height, fill up the rest of the planter with dirt, but leave a void in the front center for the dog bowl holder.

Fill up the planter to 1 inch from the top of the planter.

Step 2 – Add Your Dog Bowls

Put the first dog bowl in and add dirt around it until there are no gaps or holes. Pack the dirt around the bottom of the bowl. The first dog bowl will be the holder for the actual dog bowl that will set into it.

Step 3 – Add Decorative Rocks

I experimented with adding pebbles in the surrounding area of the dog bowl and I really like the way they look. I guess it’s better than looking at dirt.

Step 4 – Add Water to Your Dog Water Bowl Garden

Add water to the whole thing until the soil feels moist enough for the plants, but not too much water so it’s overly saturated.

I love the way my dog bowl planter turned out and it even looks good with my home decor.

If your dog is timid about drinking out of it try training him with dog treats instead of water at first.

Toby is on the left, and Ellie is on the right. They are both rescue dogs, and they are two of the sweetest dogs we have ever had. Ellie is 3, and Toby is 1. Ellie endures all 95 pounds of Toby and his puppy antics on a daily basis. She acts very sophisticated all-too-mature for Toby. We joke that she puts her eyeliner on daily! I absolutely adore these two!

Renovate Your Faith: Do You Serve Your Home, or Does Your Home Serve You?

Faq – Elevated Dog Bowl Stand with Plants

Can this planter be used as a dog feeder?

You can absolutely use this as a pet feeder with food bowls instead of water bowls. Many vets recommend elevated dog feeders because they are better for your dog’s health.

What’s the difference between an indoor and outdoor dog planter?

To make a DIY dog water bowl planter for outdoors, do the exact same process above but I’d recommend using a planter with drainage hole and put a large pot bottom underneath.

If it rains a lot, you don’t want it to overwater the plants which would water-log the planter and possibly cause root rot.

Can you use this tutorial to make a succulent water dog bowl?

If you have a small dog or your dog doesn’t make much of a mess with water, consider a small version of this DIY dog feeder planter and use succulents and succulent/cactus soil.

If you want a smaller version but your dogs are really messy with the water bowl, consider making a moss dog water bowl planter.

What if my dog is a heavy drooler or splashes a lot of water?

If your dog is a big drooler or tends to carry water away from the bowl in their mouth before dropping it on the floor, this planter will help less with that specific mess since it’s designed to catch water that spills from the bowl, not water your dog tracks away from it. In that case, I’d recommend pairing this planter with an absorbent mat a couple feet out from the bowl to catch what your pup carries with them. For dogs who mainly splash or knock water out of the bowl itself, though, this setup should make a real difference.

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Final Thoughts on My DIY Dog Water Bowl Planter

Since setting this up, my dogs have had no problem transitioning to drinking out of the plant stand. It has been fun to watch the fuscias bloom and I love how the dog water planter looks with my home decor. Most of all, I love that the water my dogs splash out of their bowl is going to water plants instead of all over my floor!

If you have any questions at all, be sure to ask below in the comments section and I will be sure to get back to you!