I have 'created' a copper tree water feature for the garden. I know, how middle class and boring but at least I got to play with a blow torch.

The branches look okay and the water flows out of the ends into little glass bowls and then tinkles into the pond below. It is even pressure balanced so the branches at different heights all flow at about the same rate.

The trouble is that the main 'trunk' is a boring looking length of 28mm copper pipe. I was thinking of covering it in a coloured gloopy coating of something. If you imagine a candle where the melted wax has spilled down the sides.

Any idea what type of epoxy stuff would stick to the copper pipe, survive being outside and covered in running water?

Wrap it in chicken wire and moss?

Not a bad idea. It doesn't get too soaked because the water comes out of the branches.

Any way to get live moss or some other stuff that will grow in those conditions? I should imagine a lot of plants don't like trying to root into copper.

Did this start out as a copper fountain feature, or was it just a botched attempt at re-plumbing the house? 😉

Well…it does turn on and off at the same time as our central heating which is a bit strange but that might just be the way i wired the pump…at least the pond is nice and warm now

Copper foil cut into leafy shapes then stuck or wired on….

Look up copper foil art on google.

Could you just use glue from a hot glue gun, that would be durable, or a mastic style waterproof gripfill, some of those are interesting colours.

Copper foil cut into leafy shapes then stuck or wired on….

+1

No epoxy is good outside. It breaks down in UV light. Should stick to copper if you roughen the surface and it should be ok in water.

You migh be better off trying some sort of outdoor plumbing or window sealing product like a silicon adhesive. Cover it no more nails, that pretty much sticks anything to anything.

Plenty of epoxies come with UV inhibitor, but you'll be wanting that from marine suppliers and its a bit more pricey.

What about using candle wax?

or…. stick some lumps of whatever on the 'trunk' then wind it with copper wire for a more aesthetically pleasing look.

jesus, I'm turning into the bastard son of Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen and Alan Titchmarsh…

We need pics!

If it doesnt look this good I'm not impressed:

I went with the mesh and moss idea.

I now have a pond with Cousin It sat in the middle

as copper is IIRC a phytotoxic metal (toxic to a lot of plants) moss may not last long, although the mesh should hold it in place even when dead.

One thing you could try is to sculpt knots and nobbly twig-type bits onto the surface with a clay/epoxy product called Milliput-available in model shops. Its waterproof and reasonably tough, provided you dont use too thin a layer.

I'd use the terracotta coloured version, then after its hardened, give it a dusting with a copper coloured spraypaint, then maybe a coat of polyurethane spray varnish.

Oh Jesus wept…

Just thinking though…won't everything turn green?