Thank you Sean, I didn't make a video, but they do a wonderful job of keeping the soil moisture constant without over watering. I've used this set up now with peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes. The only thing I changed was to install the float olla at the end of a line of five or six connected together. Once the first olla fills it restricts the flow causing the water to be more directed to the remaining olla's being filled. I have five on that system all connected.
I've been reading up on the net on toxicity and will be using aquarium grade silicone as glue as it is uncertain how carcinogenic polyurethane (base of the glue you use) is when hardened and in contact with water at all time. Given the root systems will be in direct contact with the olla I'm not going to gamble. Also, many PU glues contain a lot of other chemicals that are terribly bad for the soil and plant life. Be sure to read up close on toxicity on all the components of the glue before you are using it!
Omg that is so cool. thank you so much for sharing. I'm doing vertical garden year round greenhouse and I'm using also 5 gallon buckets. I'd like to use ollas coz I use only rain water - it will save me rain water. love your idea I will definately do.
I really like this idea -- I'm planning on making with smaller diameter pots and using pvc through the stack (with tons of holes of course) for my tower garden, that way I can water through the top. I'll use your method with the very top pot and probably stick a butterfly on top. Thanks so much for posting this. I plan on sharing!
a 1/4 hole is drilled in the top by the float for a drip line to fill them. Last year's garden had 28 olla's they were filled using an open drip line taking about 4 minutes to fill all at once. The timer filled them every 3 days for 4 minutes....the plants did great snd water consumption was very low as I only top watered once a week to keep the worms happy.
I love this idea-,yes it is sooo cool. I’m going to check out your channel now to see what other inventions you may have come up with. I love this stuff- you have made my day. Perfect for our Australian conditions 👍🏻😊
So cool! I want to make some with 2 pots with their tops glued together. I will be filling it with a hose so I was thinking about using a piece of pipe just smaller than the drain hole with a doughnut shaped piece of styrofoam glued around the bottom of it. So the pipe I use to fill it, is the indicator!
No I haven't...but the floats showing full in about 3 minutes is pretty great. imagine only watering your garden for 3 minutes and they are healthy and show no signs of stress from over or under watering.
That's really cool. Have you made a video showing them moving up and down with the water filling into them? Maybe a time lapse video... would be cool to see.
A great job with the video and explaining everything. ...but for me who likes it super simple and doesn't like products whose ingredients are suspect, I would just use the pot turned upside down into it's lid, use extra long cork for the hole plug and completely submerge the olla in the soil and the compression of the dirt around pot would slow drainage enough that it would still wick upward and slowly release. ?
Love this, exactly what I've been looking for, I've already made my first one, but I placed a artificial flower on the top of mine, and a pink pong ball inside instead of the foam... was afraid that with time the foam would start to deteriorate and start to clog up my ollas... plus its what I had on hand. Neither the pink pong ball or flower were heavy that it would affect the end result. The flower makes my veggie garden look darling... I think some bees don't like my sense of humor, it has attracted them but to only be dissapointed... 😂 to realize they aren't real... do have real flowers round for them to enjoy so at the end of the day the bees and I are happy. Thank you for sharing.
Polyurethane sealant is meant for water retention. It is used in many water storage tanks today. The reason I used this material is because is it safe for water storage. It must be fully cured! A simple search on Google will ease your mind about using polyurethane sealant.
Where do you add the water? Very cool idea! I'd like to do that as well. It would be really neat to see little daisies popping up all over my garden. :-)
I need a solution that is self watering from rain water. I am wondering if glueing the bottoms of two pots together an sealing the lower pots mouth would double the capacity and allow it to retain rain water.
when i test pots like that, plugging up the hole and putting water in a pot, i can see that after a while, the pot has changed color on the outside. It looks 'damp' but i don't see any water-drops or something... So, i'm wondering is this'll work. The pots are terracotta and are unglazed. Is this normal and is this the case with your pots too ?
Hey Bart, that's exactly what you want them to do 👍 the damp look is the water working its way through the porous texture of the terracotta and the roots will grow toward this.
It's the lid, so it doesn't hold water. This is the top, so the water doesn't evapurate. But with this design, you can also see the water level, without looking in the pot. (Saves time and you know better when to water)
A long straw, with the ends glued closed popped through the hole with levels marked on the straw, so it sits on the water and shows you how much water is in. Less work, less materials, cheaper.
What about the toxicity of the adhesive leaching into the soil would be my organic gardening concern. How deep is the pot/saucer combo ... don't think my beds are even deep enough to bury this. Nice idea. My dollar store only has tiny terra pots so I need to shop this, but concerned about the adhesive chemicals.
I was shopping for a sealant to seal my double deep raised beds, where the 1x6 boards come together. Last year, I had ants going in and out between the boards.. Anyway, I could not find a sealant that said it was safe for food consumption, so my concern would be the same on these ollas. Did you ever find out info on the adhesive?
once the gasses escape from the glue, it become an inhert substance. You are correct to worry about it in liquid state but nothing to worry about in its solid state
That's not an olla. That is a planter for a plant, so that won't be permeable. If this is not true, then you might want to explain that. Why would a plant holder be permeable? Doesn't make sense. If you put the plant in a plant holder, you don't want the plant holder to be permeable like an olla.
tim mellis old Post but maybe you will see this. Terra cotta leaches water. Plug the hole and fill it with water. After a time you'll see the exterior of the pot darken with moisture. I used the last year and they work great in the ground or in containers. Try it!
Thank you Sean,
I didn't make a video, but they do a wonderful job of keeping the soil moisture constant without over watering.
I've used this set up now with peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes.
The only thing I changed was to install the float olla at the end of a line of five or six connected together.
Once the first olla fills it restricts the flow causing the water to be more directed to the remaining olla's being filled.
I have five on that system all connected.
I've been reading up on the net on toxicity and will be using aquarium grade silicone as glue as it is uncertain how carcinogenic polyurethane (base of the glue you use) is when hardened and in contact with water at all time. Given the root systems will be in direct contact with the olla I'm not going to gamble. Also, many PU glues contain a lot of other chemicals that are terribly bad for the soil and plant life. Be sure to read up close on toxicity on all the components of the glue before you are using it!
Great idea. I love your video. Thank you for sharing.
Omg that is so cool. thank you so much for sharing.
I'm doing vertical garden year round greenhouse and I'm using also 5 gallon buckets.
I'd like to use ollas coz I use only rain water - it will save me rain water. love your idea I will definately do.
Thank you Angelia,
This past year we grew lots of tomatoes using only the olla's for irrigation.
I really like this idea -- I'm planning on making with smaller diameter pots and using pvc through the stack (with tons of holes of course) for my tower garden, that way I can water through the top. I'll use your method with the very top pot and probably stick a butterfly on top. Thanks so much for posting this. I plan on sharing!
a 1/4 hole is drilled in the top by the float for a drip line to fill them.
Last year's garden had 28 olla's they were filled using an open drip line taking about 4 minutes to fill all at once.
The timer filled them every 3 days for 4 minutes....the plants did great snd water consumption was very low as I only top watered once a week to keep the worms happy.
GREAT idea. Your not lazy but smart. Thanks for the video.
very clever set up...thank you for sharing..
Thanks for showing this, really good idea to see the water level and really easy to make.
I like this! In California we need all the help we can get. Thanks
Amazing idea! Thanks for sharing!
That's a clever linkage design with the PVC tube cut on the end. Cool.
justgivemethetruth.....thank you.
I love this idea-,yes it is sooo cool. I’m going to check out your channel now to see what other inventions you may have come up with. I love this stuff- you have made my day. Perfect for our Australian conditions 👍🏻😊
I believe you will absolutely love them!
Best of luck....⚘
Very nice, sir. Thank you for sharing!
What a great idea!! Thanks for sharing!
Very creative and logical. This is such a smart idea. I will be using lots of these this year.
Very nicely done. Great job.
Nice set up, friend! Still don't get how you fill up the olla with water, with all that stuff added on top. Maybe I missed that part.
Hey Jim, your video is just what I was looking for. Thanks!
I agree with everyone else in the comments.. really great idea.
Thank you.
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing!
you are smart..u got it going on god gave us a brain..bless you..thanks
Ollas are an ancient technology. An excellent method for watering. Good work!
Thats some MacGyver level sh#t right there.........love it!
Brilliant! Use as plant marker too.
So cool! I want to make some with 2 pots with their tops glued together. I will be filling it with a hose so I was thinking about using a piece of pipe just smaller than the drain hole with a doughnut shaped piece of styrofoam glued around the bottom of it. So the pipe I use to fill it, is the indicator!
I think you’re on to something there…. Good luck 🍀
brilliant idea! I appreciate you taking the time for this video. My plants thank you too :) Best of luck on your garden!
Very clever, excellent idea
Thank you very much, I was about to do my ollas without water level, (very good idea)
No I haven't...but the floats showing full in about 3 minutes is pretty great.
imagine only watering your garden for 3 minutes and they are healthy and show no signs of stress from over or under watering.
That's really cool. Have you made a video showing them moving up and down with the water filling into them? Maybe a time lapse video... would be cool to see.
Great idea!!! Thank you!!!❤️✌️
A great job with the video and explaining everything. ...but for me who likes it super simple and doesn't like products whose ingredients are suspect, I would just use the pot turned upside down into it's lid, use extra long cork for the hole plug and completely submerge the olla in the soil and the compression of the dirt around pot would slow drainage enough that it would still wick upward and slowly release. ?
If they are not adhered together the water would rush out quickly and not stay in the pot very long.
Barbara they are approximately 9" tall.
Our beds were a little bit shallow so I mounded the soil.up around the olla and it worked out very well.
That was super helpful. Thank you
Love this, exactly what I've been looking for, I've already made my first one, but I placed a artificial flower on the top of mine, and a pink pong ball inside instead of the foam... was afraid that with time the foam would start to deteriorate and start to clog up my ollas... plus its what I had on hand. Neither the pink pong ball or flower were heavy that it would affect the end result. The flower makes my veggie garden look darling... I think some bees don't like my sense of humor, it has attracted them but to only be dissapointed... 😂 to realize they aren't real... do have real flowers round for them to enjoy so at the end of the day the bees and I are happy.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your comment.....⚘
A ping pong ball should be perfect, that's thinking outside the box 📦 Great idea!
That's an interesting innovation you've come up with.
great idea!! thanks fo showing us
Polyurethane sealant is meant for water retention.
It is used in many water storage tanks today.
The reason I used this material is because is it safe for water storage. It must be fully cured!
A simple search on Google will ease your mind about using polyurethane sealant.
Thank you very much for sharing this.
Where do you add the water? Very cool idea! I'd like to do that as well. It would be really neat to see little daisies popping up all over my garden. :-)
I think the top where the hole was drilled comes off. You would just hold up the top of the wire as you pour in the water. Great idea.
I was wondering the same thing.
Great upgrade.
In this video I didn't have the hole drilled for the 1/4" drip line that is used on a timer to fill the olla's.
Good idea!
The God of Angle Army's is always by my side !!!!
Its not lazy. Its wisdom!
I need a solution that is self watering from rain water. I am wondering if glueing the bottoms of two pots together an sealing the lower pots mouth would double the capacity and allow it to retain rain water.
You are correct, it should be fine.
nice improvement ...thanks.
great idea Jim
I'd like to see you fill it with water. I presume you remove part of it to get to the tube.
Jim can you please list everything what you have used so it is easy to buy every single thing . THX
great idea... Olla is like $25 on ebay. but this is far better and cheap
That's so cute!
That is very clever!!!
That was good.
Thank you very much Jim, love the idea, love the video. Do you have a video showing it being full in your garden, already set up?
Great job!
very good idea. impressive.
Thats real easy thank you
How kool is that!
very clever thank you
BonJour :-) dommage que je ne comprenne que le français! merci tout de même pour cette vidéo absolument géniale!
Clever!
Thanks Eddie
God bless u too ,smart idea:)
Ohhhh, use copper wire to incorporate electroculture!!
I love it!
Thank you.
The answer is two comments below..... they are filled using a 1/4" drip line.
when i test pots like that, plugging up the hole and putting water in a pot, i can see that after a while, the pot has changed color on the outside. It looks 'damp' but i don't see any water-drops or something...
So, i'm wondering is this'll work. The pots are terracotta and are unglazed. Is this normal and is this the case with your pots too ?
Bart I have used them season after season with no issues.
Our water must not be as high in minerals as where you reside.
Hey Bart, that's exactly what you want them to do 👍 the damp look is the water working its way through the porous texture of the terracotta and the roots will grow toward this.
Could you use something more natural like a wine cork or something
Yes
very nice
❤️💕👍🏻 nice ! 😊
where can i buy a float
Nice💝
Sorry, maybe I missed it, but how do you add water?
I have the same question. Don't see an answer.
The cap isn't glued in. You take it off, and fill.
He commented below that he drills a second small hole for a drip line to autofill them.
AWESOME
How long does it hold the water?
depends on the rate at which your soil and plants are drinking the water, and the volume of your olla.
It's the lid, so it doesn't hold water. This is the top, so the water doesn't evapurate. But with this design, you can also see the water level, without looking in the pot. (Saves time and you know better when to water)
Can you confirm the size of the pots you use? They look like they are 6"
Yes they are 6 inch
you had some great ideas, but half the video is off camera and was difficult to follow
Thank you for your comment, whispers…. It was one of my first videos.
Hopefully in the future they will improve.
A long straw, with the ends glued closed popped through the hole with levels marked on the straw, so it sits on the water and shows you how much water is in. Less work, less materials, cheaper.
Straws decay in sunlight, these have lasted a few years now.
Thanks for your opinion..⚘
@@JimTcarver Thanks, my straws are for short term use, I find them, free, and use them. Thanks :)
PL (ProLine) S40 Window, Door and Siding.. polyurethane sealant
Where is your fill tube
It uses a 1/4” drip line to fill
What about the toxicity of the adhesive leaching into the soil would be my organic gardening concern. How deep is the pot/saucer combo ... don't think my beds are even deep enough to bury this. Nice idea. My dollar store only has tiny terra pots so I need to shop this, but concerned about the adhesive chemicals.
I was shopping for a sealant to seal my double deep raised beds, where the 1x6 boards come together. Last year, I had ants going in and out between the boards.. Anyway, I could not find a sealant that said it was safe for food consumption, so my concern would be the same on these ollas. Did you ever find out info on the adhesive?
I’m thinking that the fist tank sealant might be safe for vegetable planters? If they are safe for fish they might be safe for us ?
once the gasses escape from the glue, it become an inhert substance. You are correct to worry about it in liquid state but nothing to worry about in its solid state
I guess then you should just buy a traditional olla if you're that concerned & skip the diy
Proof positive I can learn from a poor video. LOL!
Mike L
Thanks for the comment.
Yes, even you can learn!
🤗
That's not an olla. That is a planter for a plant, so that won't be permeable. If this is not true, then you might want to explain that. Why would a plant holder be permeable? Doesn't make sense. If you put the plant in a plant holder, you don't want the plant holder to be permeable like an olla.
tim mellis old Post but maybe you will see this. Terra cotta leaches water. Plug the hole and fill it with water. After a time you'll see the exterior of the pot darken with moisture. I used the last year and they work great in the ground or in containers. Try it!
It`s only made sense for a few THOUSAND years now ......lol.