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You are here: Home / Gardening / How to Make a Butterfly Puddler

How to Make a Butterfly Puddler

May 5, 2014 by Jody 28 Comments

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How to Create a Butterfly Puddler - Make  a butterfly puddler with this tutorial to help attract butterflies to your yard.

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.

How to Make a Butterfly Puddler

Place sand to cover at least 3/4 of your container.

How to Attract butterflies to your yard with a  Butterfly Puddler

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.

creating a butterfly puddler

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.

More Tips for Attracting Butterflies

How to Make Butterfly Nectar

6 Frugal Ways to Attract Butterflies to Your Yard

Attracting Butterflies with Butterfly Bushes

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Comments

  1. Julia Wilison says

    February 6, 2022 at 12:50 pm

    I found a Monarch butterfly I brought him into my house put him in a box with grass and a slice of orange I have ordered a butterfly house for it because it will not never be able to fly I would like to know how to make a paddling to put in the butterfly house for the butterfly. Julia Wilison

    Reply
  2. Debbie says

    September 24, 2021 at 5:21 pm

    Can you use beach sand?

    Reply
  3. MaryEllen says

    July 1, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    I just happened upon this article and your site, glad I did.

    Reply
  4. Shirley Peterson says

    June 4, 2018 at 4:16 am

    This 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.

    Reply
    • Susan Segur says

      July 3, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      Must remember that you cannot use just any sand. It needs to be free of certain toxic fillers.

      Reply
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  1. Butterfly Unit Study - Homeschool Unit Study Ideas says:
    February 3, 2020 at 7:36 am

    […] a butterfly puddler, I show you how here on Premeditated […]

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Prep-Ahead Breakfasts and Lunches by Alea Milham

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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