DIY Self-Watering Pot for the Garden (Olla Update)
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- This video is in partnership with Sugru Mouldable Glue by tesa. Find out more about this creative repair and DIY tool at bit.ly/3izdsed and enjoy 10% off when you join their awesome newsletter.
Six years ago I shared a video showing how to transform an ordinary terracotta pot into a self-watering pot for the garden. I've been using my DIY ollas in the greenhouse since then and this video is a follow-up on how they work and to answer some frequently answered questions. I also share alternative ways to adapt them including using the mouldable glue from Sugru.
Other questions answered include if you can put fertilizer in the self-watering pots, spacing, how often you should fill the pots with water, and how many plants can one DIY olla service. I also show how quickly water can seep through the terracotta and get to where plant roots are eagerly waiting for it.
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Thank you making clean concise video content without a lot of side stories, that blur the intention of the video and waste time. I love this idea and will be trying it in my next garden planting.
With the bee waterer idea you could go one size smaller with the lid so it fits snugly inside the pot.
BTW I have made an inground worm bin in a similar way. It automatically feeds my plants when I water it.
Would love to see how you did a worm bin. It would be neat if you made a video. I looked on your page and didn't see one. Did I miss it? Thank you!!
I too would love to see your plans for the inground worm bin!! What a great idea!!
I just put in a worm bin/ compost in place following the suggestion from Robbie and Gary's channel, a dollar store pitcher / tall container with holes in the sides, and the lid loosely on top. You can also put a plant in a pot on top of the pitcher, water that, which drops into the container!
Nadia I have just set up the same thing from Robbie & Gary’s channel !
Yay - think they will work great! I planted tomatoes and summer squash near the 'bin,, and put a strawberry in a pot on top 🍓 🍅
I started using Ollas after watching your video from years ago. I love Ollas. My tomatoes and peppers grow beautifully! I also use my Ollas for my container annuals. Everything thrives with this watering technique. I’ve made them myself and have bought several. Smart way to be water friendly.
Thanks so much! I only got my greenhouse constructed and we have hit a crazy heatwave. So this will definitely help my late planting start! Cheers!
You're very welcome Terri!
Thanks for sharing! Love this idea. I found your old video, asked my sister if she had any pots she wasn't using. She gave me some lovely ones that didn't even have holes in them! So there are pots out there that are intact! Anyway, thank you again!
I may have to use this if i ever get my own house. I go on holiday to england in a week so im thankful I have my family still home to water my vegetables !
i use terracotta clay as the hole filler. it dries pretty quick and better for the environment..
Thank you for your expert explanation on using this system. I invested in the clay pots and will be learning more about it as I go along. Have a wonderful day.
Watering is not simple. Not too much and not short.. I love this creative idea. I'll give it a try. Thanks a lot.~
I’ll be trying this brilliant ancient method of watering!
it's a good way for me to water newly-planted veggie seedlings in my garden. Sometimes the tiny plants are easy to lose water and withered in the hot summer sun. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you - I had no idea!
Tanya, u r so informative nd amazing. Big shout out from nepal.
I really enjoyed your videos on Ollas, I found Mold Puddy which is used for food, soap, wax to plug the holes of the pots. Putting the homemade Ollas with the lid in my planters. Thank you for your great ideas
Very helpful, interesting and informative video Tanya.
great video tanya
Excellent vedio presentation. Great idea to save money.
Lovely Greens, lovely garden.
I live in a desert in southern California, but fortunately we have water from the Colorado river, hundreds of mile away.
When we get rain it is in December thru April and it doesn't rain again until the end of October. The summer months are bone dry.
I use a drip system for watering my garden. I have tried the Self-Watering Pot and I don't see any advantage over the drip system.
I think the drip system is cheaper and easier to maintain.
BTW, you are a lovely lady ❤
Excellent! Thank you! As a beginner, i so appreciate your tips and expertise 😃💕
Merci, Tanya! Delicious...
Wonderful idea! Thank you!
Hi 👋 and Thanks 😊
This is a brilliant idea!?! ❤️❤️❤️
Absolutely! This idea has been extremely helpful for growing food for thousands of years
After I discovered ollas about 10 years ago I did some UA-cam research and found a video suggesting filling the Olla with compost and watering into that. I tried this method when planting an indeterminate tomato, by using a metre long (36”) terracotta pipe (used for plumbing in Australia before plastic was invented, now v hard to find). I planted half the length of the pipe near my newly planted tomato seedling and filled with home made compost, added a glazed pottery dish for a lid and watered. The tomato harvest was incredible! When removing the spent tomato plant at the end of the season I discovered the roots of that tomato plant had spread more than 4m (4 yards) from the base of the plant. Having moved several times, I’m unable to source the terracotta pipes, but I’ll try the terra’ pot instead.
Any thoughts on why the compost in the olla worked better than just water in the olla or than compost in the pot?
@@hynnow18 My thoughts are that with the slow trickle of water out of the olla that maybe it was a case of feeding little and often that the tomato particularly liked? They like a steady supply of water, throughout the day; not too much and not too little, but they are heavy feeders, so if they have a little bit of food mixed into that water, then I suppose they would be very happy!
@@hynnow18 My thoughts are that with the slow trickle of water out of the olla that maybe it was a case of feeding little and often that the tomato particularly liked? They like a steady supply of water, throughout the day; not too much and not too little, but they are heavy feeders, so if they have a little bit of food mixed into that water, then I suppose they would be very happy!
@@hynnow18 my guess is the passing of steady nutrients from the compost.
Love the cork idea
After seeing your first video I made Olla’s from terracotta pots. Excellent idea gives me more ‘away time’ as my allotment is not near my house. I think with big tomatoes two per Olla I get a three day window in the height of summer in the Netherlands. Fab! And the terracotta pots here are very cheap…how strange is that c.f. UK. I am enjoying your new garden… love the shady bits myself, to make a peaceful garden of ferns. Regards Sandra
OYA that is one slick idea !
Thank you 😁✌️
Great suggestion, great gardening tip.
I appreciate your calm, knowledgeable presentation. Definitely subscribed to your channel and going to research Sugru!
I’ve been using the pallet planters for tomatoes over 6 years now. Going to try the Florida Weave method this year to stake them out. Helps with ventilation they say which with a bushy crop has to help. I hope. 😎
Thankyou! I appreciated your thorough video. I plan to do this with corks, but will get some Sugru for another project and might use for this if I cannot find right sized corks!
Great idea!
Very good. I use plastic used plastic bottles that contained soft dinks and milk then put drip on it. Works wonders , only water containers every 4 weeks.
Please explain further as I'd love to know.
Good idea if you have the room in your garden. In my climate have to do anything to not encourage mosquitoes
I wondered how you used this system with your smaller individual pots of tomatoes. Do you just use a smaller pot? Thanks!
You can also use the lid from a yogurt container and silicone sealant to cover the holes. Curious to know if I could use these outside in the tomato bed?
Yes, you can use them outside too. 🌱
They're great for outside use!
genius 💚
Hi, Just wondering how big your greenhouse is. It is very nice. Thanks
This could works for calla lilies?
Hello there. Thanks for the demonstration of setting up the Olla clay pots for watering.
You mentioned how they naturally attract slugs, so I'm wondering how you managed the slugs? Thank you.
You can pick them off and deal with them how you wish. To be honest, I don't do much of anything with slugs unless they are causing real damage.
I've just had an idea ,but not sure if it would work. Use a deeper top,turn it up the other way and fill with beer. They like that( who doesn't 😂)then they drown in it😂😂
This works well but what about in ground plants in a large garden plot.....those clay pots are expensive now that gardening has become so popular....I’ve used food safe ice cream buckets and coffee container and just put fine pin holes in the lower sides since the clay ones have increased in price like all gardening items.....
Look for secondhand? Plastic bottles and containers can make a kind of olla but they're not as effective as terracotta
I want to ask tanya: is in that pallette planter has a wierd thing ( such a little tiny animal ) that caused damage to the plant?. Because the pallette planter is too tall
Thank you for the 📷 video
Please it can work even in Morocco with a dry weather ? And with big blants like olives ?
Thanks ☺️
This method is especially great in arid climates like Morocco. I've never heard of anyone using ollas with trees though before, because once established, you shouldn't need to water trees except in the most extreme situations.
Is there such a thing as a terra cotta pot that might be too think and make the water harder to leach out to the soil?
If a terracotta pot was very thick, all that means is that the material could hold more water. It would work perfectly 👌 The only time a terracotta pot would not work as an olla is if it was painted/glazed on the outside. That coating would stop water from being able to escape the surface.
My understanding is that algae will not form because no light will penetrate the pot.I am definitely going to try this
I was wondering if that would work in reverse for window box planters? I have a problem with the window boxes hanging from the windows on the 2nd and 3rd floors of my old house drying out too fast, even the "self watering" window boxes; I frequently need to water them 3 times a day and there are several of them. I wonder if I were to plug up the holes in the bottom of the terracotta pots, then planted my flowers in those pots, watered them in lightly and then set the terracotta pots planted with the flowers in a plastic lined window box (also with all the holes plugged up) filled with water... would the water wick into the terracotta pot with the flowers planted in them when the soil started getting dry? Maybe I could get away with watering each window box just once a day, or even every other day...? Anyone have any thoughts on this???
I'm intrigued by this idea and think if the water level only came up an inch from the bottom of the pots it could work. Any higher and the plants could drown.
I put holes in the side of the pots. It works.
Then the pot hold a few inches of very wet soil for several days.
Can you use Blu-tac to plug the hole ?
Mounting putty of any brand works. Clay works too.
Awsum
Hi, can I use melted glue srick to fill the hole of the pot? Thanks!😊
Yes you can!
pots without holes are hard to find?
Thank you for the helpful video! What plant is that in front of your tomatoes at 5:05?
It's a waxy leafed geranium 🙂
@@Lovelygreens Great, thank you! It looks familiar but I can't remember where I've seen it and I didn't know what it was. =)
i noticed you havent pruned those Tomatoes, is this intentional so they dont grow tall or have you just not yet?
Any idea how long it takes for the roots to attach? My tomatoes are tall with lots of buds and I’d like to try this before vacation in a few weeks
You need to put the ollas in when the plants are young. If you do it now, you'll probably damage the plant roots. Better to get someone to water them for you this time :)
I have lots of pots but no lids…. Any ideas? 🙏
mismatched plates from a thrift store?
A glass plate
What size pot did you use please?
I think they're 8" pots, but you can use any size really. Smaller ones need filling more often but fit in planters better :)
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“Daiso” Japanese store has terracotta unglazed pots for 1.$75
I don’t mean to be a negative Nancy but I was told by Sugru that it hasn’t been tested for food safety so they don’t recommend using it where it comes into contact with food or drink.
Now with that being said, it brings to question something I still haven’t heard a definitive answer on: does the container we grow fruit or veg in (and thus the chemicals in whatever container), and the chemicals in the water we use to water them, affect the fruit or veg? I’m not a plant chemist, but it seems like a plant would only take the chemistry from the ground and water that it needs to grow. So if there’s anything harmful in the container or the water, there’s no reason for the plant to take it up and thus the resulting fruit or veg stays harmful chemical free. Then the other side of the argument: the harmful chemicals in the container it’s grown in, or in the water used, will transfer into the fruit or veg itself and thus get into us when we eat it. Anyone know for sure or have any studies to point me to? Thank you!
The miniscule amount of sugru used , and the fact it is not in direct contact it would be no problem . There is likely more nasty stuff in the soil . wouldn't worry about it
I understand that Sugru is inert once it's solid so isn't an issue for ollas 👍
I'd be more concerned about the plants in contact with the content of air pollutants and dangerous chemicals in our air. The rain filters through that atmospheric garbage that travels and carries pollutants from around the world then hydrates our soil. Rain water is not the same as it was centuries ago. Every generation has its concerns for clean nutrients that are exposed to the products we eat/drink. Sugru contents are not transferrable once it's cured. Let it cure 48° longer after recommended curing time before its use. That should work. I've used it to repair a very old chipped ceramic drinking cup. I think I should be more afraid of the contents of the ceramic cup rather than of the Sugru. The glazing inside the cup has crackled in some spots. I still use it as there is no visible leaching of liquid through the cracks and into the ceramic.
What about
💜🩷Your hair is very pretty🩷💜
Terracotta pots have heavy metals.
Will liquid fertilizer go through the pot.
It would BUT would also create a stinking and festering mess inside the pot. Nutrients + water = bog.
I love this idea. Wine corks are perfect to plug the holes. And, are easily trimmed to a snug fit with a paring knife. I've easily gone 10 days between waterings with a 2 gallon "olla", generously moist soil and, of course, mulch. Thanks so much for reminding me.
I've been using Ollas since watching your original video for those spots in the garden that are tough to get a hose to or I can't hook up to my soaker hoses. Generally they've worked good with one real difficulty, finding pots that will actually seep. About half of the pots that I've bought seem to not work (These are all un-glazed terra cotta garden pots). If anyone has any suggestions on National, US, store or on-line store that they've had good luck buying 'good' unglazed pots that work as Ollas I would really appreciate it.
Generally I've used corks and they seem to work fine. Additionally I've followed the suggestions and used the plastic lids (pot trays?) as bee water sources. This morning while sitting near one of the Ollas a young Magpie entertained me using it as a bath, very cute.
Haven't built the strawberry pallet/crates yet but they were also brilliant, so soon!
I have the same problem. Just can't find any locally. They're available from Walmart online for about $75 including shipping, but that's way over my budget. I've been thinking about running an ad on Craigslist to see if a local potter could make them for less. Contacting an art school with a kiln is another possibility I'm considering. Please post here if you come up with a solution that doesn't involve silicone adhesive.
Love the idea. I’ve also tried it however a lot of aquatic critters decided to move and find their way in not just mosquitoes.
Put some mosquitoe bites or dunks in the water and/or place a brick/something heavy on top
Sugru is a miracle product. Was used it on dorm walls without damaging or puting holes in wall surfaces. Also made hand shaped hooks and supports on car dashboards or on the side of the center counsel to keep USB cables out of the way when using accessory devices or hanging air fresheners to keep them off the rear view mirror!!