How to Build a Bee Bath (A Water Station for Pollinators)

When people think about helping bees, they think about flowers. But bees need water too, and during dry spells, clean water can be surprisingly hard for them to find. A bee bath is one of the easiest, cheapest, most helpful pollinator projects you can do, and it takes about ten minutes.

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Why bees need water

• Cooling the hive. On hot days, bees spread droplets of water across the comb and fan their wings. It works like a natural swamp cooler.
• Diluting food. Nurse bees mix water with honey and pollen to feed young larvae.
• Dissolving crystallized honey so the colony can eat it.
• Staying hydrated, just like us.

A strong colony can collect a lot of water on a hot day. Native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators need water, too.

Why a birdbath isn't enough

Bees can't swim. A birdbath or bowl of deep water can actually become a trap. Bees need a place to land and stand safely while they drink. That's what makes a bee bath different: it's all about safe landing spots.

What you'll need

• A shallow dish, saucer, or pie plate (a plant saucer works great)
• Pebbles, marbles, flat stones, corks, or sea glass (river pebbles or flat glass marbles are easy to find)
• Fresh, clean water

Short on time? A ready-made pollinator water dish works too.

How to make it

1. Choose your dish. Shallow and wide is best.
2. Add your landing spots. Fill the dish with a layer of stones or marbles, leaving plenty poking above the surface.
3. Add water. Pour in just enough to fill the gaps. The tops of the stones should stay dry.
4. Place it in the garden, near flowers bees already visit. Partial shade keeps the water from getting too warm or evaporating too quickly.
5. Raise it a little on a stump, stool, or overturned pot if you like, so it's easy for you to see and refill.

Keeping it clean and safe

• Refresh the water every couple of days. This keeps it clean and stops mosquitoes from breeding.
• Scrub it weekly to prevent algae.
• Don't add anything to the water: no soap, sugar, or chemicals.
• Be patient. It can take bees a little while to find a new water source. Once they do, they'll remember it and come back.

Bonus: a little mineral boost

You may notice bees visiting damp soil, puddles, or even slightly salty spots. Bees seem to seek out minerals as well as water. Some gardeners add a tiny pinch of sea salt to one small dish of water, but a plain, clean bee bath is plenty.

A great project with kids

Making a bee bath is a wonderful family project. Kids can pick out stones or paint them with bright designs (with nontoxic paint, sealed and fully dry before they go in water), and then watch for visitors. It's a gentle way to help children see bees as friends, not something to fear. (For more on that, see What We Wish Everyone Knew About Honey Bees.)

Looking for more simple ways to help? Read How to Support Pollinators (Even If You Don't Have a Garden).