Little space in the garden? No problem, you can conjure up a miniature insect hotel from a simple clay pot in no time at all. You can even hang it up on the balcony. In addition, you only need very few additional materials or tools. The construction is very simple, even for inexperienced craftsmen. Convince yourself in this guide.
Clay pots filled with stuffing are ideal for insects
Build an insect hotel out of a clay pot
In the beginning you can never have enough of it and then you decide to cultivate it outdoors. Clay pots quickly pile up in the garden and are no longer used when planting flowers. They not only serve as a protective element for plants, but also give insects a home. Repurpose your old clay pots into an insect hotel (€11.33):
Required material
- a clay pot
- a pruning shears
- a rope or thick string for hanging
- an onion or potato net
- filling material
manual
- Clean the clay pot and remove any remaining garden soil. Do not use aggressive detergents for this.
- If you want you can paint your clay pot. Here, too, only compatible paint should be used. A coat of red is recommended. This will specifically attract lacewings.
- Thread the string through the hole and tie a knot inside.
- Use scissors to cut bamboo sticks or straw to fill the clay pot.
- Stretch the net in front of the opening so that the material does not fall out.
- Hang the insect hotel on a stable branch.
tips
You can also fill your clay pot with clay and drill holes in the material. You can find out how to make the clay yourself here.
location
A sunny location with little draft and precipitation is best. In addition, there should be a source of food in the immediate vicinity.
Who is moving in?
It all depends on the filling material you choose. Wild bees like to settle in clay walls. Straw, on the other hand, attracts earwigs.