When creating a butterfly garden, the first and most important step is to plant flowers that attract them to your yard. Maybe even include some host plants for the caterpillars to feed on to keep them around in all stages. But that won't be enough to bring them back time and time again. To have a really successful butterfly garden, you will also want to provide them with butterfly nectar and fresh water in a butterfly puddler. Butterflies drink by “puddling”. They sip at shallow puddles of water in mud or sand instead of landing in large open water areas. To make them feel welcome in your garden, you should include various features to supply all their needs. How wonderful to sit on your porch and watch dozens of butterflies not only glide by, but also linger in the haven you created for them. This project is thrifty and quick to put together, my favorite kind.
How to Make a Butterfly Puddler
To get started, you will need a large, shallow dish or container (use a container at least 18″ wide). I used an extra bird bath I had laying around and set it right in the middle of my garden in the shade.
Place sand to cover at least 3/4 of your container.
Add water until soil is just moistened, with shallow pockets of water. You could also use butterfly nectar or stale beer – butterflies are quite the beer drinkers.
Add several stones or sticks throughout the sand for butterflies to rest on.
Overripe fruit can also be placed in the puddler to offer another source of nectar.
Keep your sand just slightly moist and do not overfill, butterflies cannot land in open water.
Nancy says
March 24, 2015 at 6:11 pmThanks for sharing the idea of the puddler..This is very easy. I cant wait to tey one.
Jan says
March 25, 2015 at 7:31 amThank you so much for this article! I have been butterfly gardening for years, My cousin gave me a milkweed for Christmas one year, I placed it outside my door and the next morning when I opened the door, a Monarch was there, I was hooked! One thing I didn’t know that Butterflies like stale beer!, I guess I’ll be purchasing beer now! LOL
BRENDA J MANUWAL says
November 2, 2018 at 8:53 pmI WILL DO THIS NEXT SPRING I HAD A FEW THIS YEAR BUT WITH 5 BUTTERFLY BUSHES I SHOULD HAVE A LOT MORE….WE HAD A STRETCH OF VERY HOT WEATHER AND I AM SURE THAT HINDERED THEM….I HAVE 3 BIRD BATHS SO ONE MORE WON’T HURT THANKS BRENDA IN IN.
deb stokes says
March 27, 2015 at 7:25 pmLove your newsletter. I will try the butterfly puddler for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Robert pope says
February 24, 2016 at 12:14 pmThanks so much for the information. Love it.
Jenn Dee says
March 28, 2015 at 1:57 pmlove the puddler. Do you have ideas for an easy butterfly house? Thanks for your ideas!
LaMoyne Hardenburger says
May 13, 2015 at 4:26 pmI, too, was interested in making a butterfly house until I read an article which stated that butterfly houses are not a good idea. The reason being that spiders get into them, making them unsafe for butterflies. We have various trees which might provide shelter, but I’m also hoping to plant some tall, ornamental grasses which I understand will provide a place that butterflies like.
I hope that you are as excited about enjoying and preserving our lovely butterflies as I am.
patty says
June 22, 2016 at 6:50 pmWhen including a butterfly house in with my insect motels, I include some moss, bark, and a familiar branch from a glycerin Buddelia branch. It’s a VIAGRA bar! (the mud puddle)
Don’t forget the seasonal blooming plants for the pollen.
patty says
June 22, 2016 at 6:58 pmI forgot to mention the butterfly house included in your insect motel is merely a pit-stop after stopping at the “VIAGRA-BAR”, to rest up to inseminate 2-3 more times that day!
michelle says
August 25, 2015 at 4:40 pmThanks, I bought a bird bath and was worried it was too deep. But by adding sand and rocks I think it will be perfect.
Re the butterfly house. I wanted to get one and thought by planting lavender around it and even putting some dried lavender inside the house it might deter spiders. I have read that lavender is a repellant to spiders. Has anyone else tried this?
sally r says
January 2, 2016 at 9:46 amQHow do you you recommend keeping the sand clean, especially if you put fruit in the same puddler.
patty says
June 22, 2016 at 7:05 pmPut your fresh fruit in a lid, or foil. 1C sand to 1Tbls. compost & manure, 1 teas. salt. Mix dry, add enough to moisten, and never let get dry. To clean Let dry out, brush out, and add more salt. email, I’m researching myself.
Have fun
Maria says
June 17, 2017 at 7:05 amCan you you sea sand?
LESLIE says
October 11, 2015 at 10:05 amEverything I’ve tried to attract butterflies only gets me bees. Bees, l might add, that are almost impossible to “unattract”. Where am I going wrong?
Cher says
March 30, 2016 at 1:57 pmI think I read somewhere a long time ago that butterflies like the minerals they can consume by including mushroom compost in the puddler?
Penny says
March 31, 2016 at 6:59 pmEspecially important that the water is not too deep!! At a “butterfly” exhibit at the conservatory, butterflies were drowning in the exhibit pond!! Thanks for your article.
JoAnn Thompson says
June 25, 2016 at 9:41 amThanks! I love the butterfly puddler. I have large butterflies in my backyard and I can’t wait to make this to attract more.
Barb says
March 18, 2017 at 9:35 amThis sounds like a great idea and I would like to try it. My only concern is if I used beer would it attract wasps? Wouldn’t mind attracting bees unless they discourage the butterflies but don’t want to support wasp colonies!
AJ says
May 9, 2017 at 1:55 pmJust curious… What do you do when it rains? Doesn’t it fill up and wash away the sand?
Bess falls says
July 3, 2017 at 1:37 pmI tried the butterfly nectar. Got a few moths & lots of wasps & ants. Will try puddler with sand & salt instead.
Gina says
September 28, 2017 at 10:01 am“I used an extra bird bath I had laying around and set it right in the middle of my garden in the shade”.
Considering butterflies like to sun their wings on rocks, wouldn’t it make more sense for the puddle to be in the full sun? Of course it would dry out a lot faster too…
Gwyn says
July 14, 2018 at 2:43 pmFull sun heats the water too much. I burned myself on my birdbath and moved it into the midday shade.
Shirley Peterson says
June 4, 2018 at 4:16 amThis behavior called puddling, and is mostly seen in male butterflies. That’s because males incorporate those extra salts and minerals into their sperm. When butterflies mate, the nutrients are transferred to the female through the spermatophore.
MaryEllen says
July 1, 2018 at 3:11 pmI just happened upon this article and your site, glad I did.