Thank you for this cheaper, diy version of ollas ! The size and the price stopped me from buying any. I thought about drip irrigation, but they only last couple of seasons. Since I have hard water, I would also need a filter. This is such an environmentally friendly idea. And I'll check out that book. Thank you !
The book is a great resource. If you have hard water you may consider building a simple rain catch system to fill up ollas from. That’s what I do both for cost saving and to reduce mineral build up. Thank you for sharing!
@@elliothuemannCould that be a topic, for a future video 😂 ? Currently, I have a large plastic bin, 5 gallon buckets, and smaller containers, that I've been using to collect rainwater. For this upcoming rainy season, I'm thinking of buying a large container - specifically for collecting rainwater. . Just gotta figure out, how to get the rainwater falling from the house roof, into the container.
Love cheap ideas! I will tell you that one thing I learned quickly from experience is that straw or hay mulch (I know people use grass clippings too) works REALLY well to keep the soil cooler and keep the moisture in. It’s made the absolute biggest difference. I have found that 4-6” makes an absolutely fantastic solution to daily watering. We didn’t get rain for a month in NC and I watered my heavily mulched raised bed two or three times in that entire month. And I should add that is on top of a massive heat wave.
Cedar mulch will drive out bad bugs. But many places you can purchase cedar mulch sell a blend that has almost no cedar (Lowes/Home Depot), if you buy cedar shavings for animals the shavings are untreated without weird dyes or additives. Walmart sells it for $10 for 5 cubic feet and the smell of cedar is very strong so you know it's real cedar. My mom says Mendards sells good cedar mulch if you have one but they don't have a Menards in California
Just checked hobby lobby website for these and saw a clay pot sealer 👀 anybody got any experience with that?….can I seal two pots together? Or is that over ambitious?
@@denyshadials5702 clay pot sealer is more of an outside varnish to keep moisture in I believe. You can definitely glue two pots together with some construction adhesive though! It’s messy but works great. Tons of videos on how to do that diy
So I think I will make one small change. Flip the tops so that they can catch some water. This will allow pollinators to drink too and I am wondering if water will drip down and in when it rains. I would maybe also add some rocks so that pollinators like bees can sit safely and to add some pretty.
I love this idea. I’m going to go out right now and flip some over to test it. I bet we could drill a hole in the saucer for a small bit of drainage but hopefully it will still keep some water for the ecosystem! Thank you!
@AdesinaCat such a great idea ! And with the added safety of rocks. I also place some succulent plants in the water. Also for the insects, the water stays cooler in the terracotta.
By flipping the top, you will have standing water which invites mosquitoes! Maybe flip only a few, then add a solar water pump to move the water. Of course, add rocks for pollinators!
@@belindaayewoh437 I use a product called "mosquito dunks" in my rain barrels & bird bath. It also comes in a more granular form "mosquito bits." You could put a small amount in the saucer to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs there. It is safe for birds & other creatures.
Flipping the saucer is a good idea. I do this for my 5 gallon vermicomposters (basically buckets with lots of holes). I put a large rock for polinators and lizards to sit, which is easier for me to move than a bunch of pebbles. I only recommend flipping if you live in an arid area where the water will evaporate or in a humid area if you can regularly dump the saucer... fine for vermicompsting but defeats the low maintenance purpose of using an olla.
I went through so many other videos and sources before coming across this idea. So much simpler and honestly not much more expensive. The book I listed in the video description inspired me. Definitely worth checking out
Wonderfully thought out and presented, and a new method of olla I have never seen before! I may have to try one in my high desert climate to see if it's as effective as the narrow neck ollas. Here, one of those will need refilling every 24-36 hours in July and August. I have my ollas fed by my automated watering system and it saves me huge swaths of time. One of my viewers told me about this video and I'm glad they did. Great work!
Thank you so much! And thanks to your viewer. I really appreciate the share. If you give it a test let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear about the experiment. 🔬
Thank you for such a simple solution. I was gifted some nice homemade ollas that were handmade and kiln baked, but once I started using them, I realized I needed more. Haha.
I use 8” clay pots with rubber stoppers too. Depending on who makes the pot, either #5 or #4 stoppers do the trick. I live in the high desert of SoCal and this summer it has hit 112° in the shade. Here, they still need supplemental water and/or shade cloth (which really wants to blow away!). But I do think the clay pots help a lot to keep water available to the plants at all times. If there’s room under the plant’s branches, I also usually invert a 3-gallon carboy (jug) of water into the pot instead of using a saucer as lid. That makes a longer lasting water reservoir, but I do find I have to “burp” them about every couple of days to keep the suction from slowing the water flow. Also they get algal growth so I wind up washing them out; undecided how worthwhile the carboys are.
Thank you so much for such a simple explanation of using ollas! I’ve seen other videos, but most involved gluing 2 pots together then burying them. My beds are mostly clay, and have tons of roots to contend with. But I think I’ll be able to dig an 8” hole! Thanks again!
You’re so welcome! If you’re putting them in clay soil see if you can amend the surrounding ground with some compost or organic matter to help the water flow out from the pot into the surrounding area. The olla should be great to provide consistent watering to your plants but the setup will thank you for the soil amendment 🌱
Thank you for sharing your video. I have a raised bed and it drys so fast from our 90+ degrees temps here in the South. I will incorporate this technique this weekend.
I'm also in the South.. suddenly we've gotten consistent rain over the past month .... the way it used to be decades ago.. I would have laughed at the idea of needing ollas here... but now I depend on them.. and also catch as much rainwater as I can to keep them and my fishtubs filled.. the fishtubs I've used for the past two years to conquer rainwater shortage. I don't like to use precious tapwater outside.
Thank for such clear and simple directions! I'm so tired of dragging my garden hose around and I don't like the way soaker hoses look either. I like the way the pots look, neat and tidy, and there's no hoses to trip on or kink up. I'm going to try this. 🙂
Love this video. It’s good to know there are other ways to water without using the water systems most gardeners are using. I am planting in pots and I am to know that’s they can be used in containers. I’m going to give this a try. Thanks for the idea.
Totally ok. I’ve actually thought about doing that with friends and family so I have different little art works around the garden. But no concern about it effecting the olla as long as the pot itself remains unglazed! Thanks for asking!
I just put a raised bed with legs today. I will definitely try this system for this fall crop season. Thanks and looking forward to your next video. From Santa Fe New Mexico ❤
Let me know how it goes! This system really shines in dry/desert areas so I hope it’s great. Combine it with a mulch/cover and it should work wonders for you :)
So the soil around the olla doesn’t crush the pot when the ground freezes? I am new to frozen ground, Seattle has had many completely frozen winter storms where the ground freezes. Anyway, love the hint. I’m going to try it.
It’s a great question. I’m going to run tests and confirm over the winter for an update next spring, but in theory it should be fine. The pots can rise and fall with the ground movement so that part should be fine. What I’m unsure about is whether the capillaries in the clay will freeze and break 🤷🏼♂️ we recently moved from Seattle and I think ollas should be great there, especially July through September ☀️
Really good, clear advice. I would send this video to anyone who wants to use ollas. I have been using them or about a year at our work greenhouse and they work really really well. I have some waist high raised beds and they keep my basil safe even on the hottest days. I have also been putting them into containers with tomatoes and they really help keep the soil moist so that I don't have to water constantly.
Great video, keep it up! I use double Ollas for potted plants 5 gal or more. Put a same sized terra cotta pot upside down over another. Use Silicone Sealant (caulking) to glue them together. Double water, have to fill it even less often.
I’m using these this year for the 1st time and used cheap cork plugs they are not holding up supper well but should last the rest of the year. I’m definitely going to switch to those rubber stoppers next!
Thank you for the plug solution. I haven't gotten pots because of the hassel of plugging up the holes with putty or concrete. This is going to be great because my garden is to spread out for irrigation systems. Have you used smaller pots and if so, what size and what size plugs?
I have used smaller pots. I put some sizes and plugs in the description. It takes a bit of back and forth measuring and experimenting because every pot manufacturer can make the drainage holes a bit different.
You are in Minnesota where it freezes. Even if you go to the trouble of removing them before the first hard freeze. You are describing a very labor intensive, high maintenace system with a potential for catastrophic failure as soon as it freezes, which, where you are, is a certainy.
I am going to do some tests unplugging and leaving some pots in the ground to see how it goes, but even if I have to pull them up in the fall I don’t mind. It’s a much easier system for me personally. I love that there are no moving parts.
@@elliothuemann Like me, so it seems, each year your gardens become a place for wonderful experiements. I loved terracota / clay pots for many years, just something gardeny about them. But breakage became too much to overcome. I apply the Ollas concept but used recycled plastic plant buckets , drill holes in them near the bottom and then add fabric to slow the drainage. Seek function over form and let form follow in this case. I also fill them half full of compost (often plant specifc like banana peel soup for tomatoes) before I add water. I want those Ollas to fill themselves and keep working on how. Rain capture makes the most sense but here we may not get much rain from late June until late October. That means water storage in rain barrels. As I approach 80 years old, I focus more and more on low maintainence, sustainable methods. I still try new things each year, like converting 3'x20' area where Lambs ear grew into a place where I can grow squash and melons. Lots of insects have been happy there for many years. So here comes the dishsoap spray. Good Luck-nice work!
Hey Belinda, good catch. I forgot to add it before, but just put it in the description. You may still want to measure and double check but those numbers should give you a starting place!
I'll be trying this method! I made some ollas using other methods but I have found them difficult to manage. Many of them broke over winter, and the sealing I did detached very quickly. So many of them needed to be redone and I didn't have time.
I wouldn’t use it for trees because I’d be worried about it watering too shallow for the roots to develop right. The book I linked in the description has some great suggestions for deep watering trees with a deep soaker pipe. Could be worth looking into
Thanks, what a great idea. I think I will place some near my raspberries. They are far back of my yard and too far for the hose to reach. Hand watering is a bear. Takes about 10 trips at least. Those babies are thirsty. Im getting older and this will help so much.
I have some hard to reach spots as well. This should help out a ton! Think about placing them every 2-3 feet and maybe mulching around them/the plants to maximize benefits! Good luck!
I love love love my ollas, I have 12 raised beds and I've made/assembled ollas for them all this year, ollas have completely eliminated blossom end rot in my tomatoes. A rubber plug is not a method I've ever seen used, but I might give it a try if I need to make more. I find the only major con of ollas is fertilizing. I've heard adding fertilizer to an olla will clog it and granular fertilizer doesn't get enough water to make it available to the plants. In my climate I only get rain during about 1 month of the year. Any thoughts on fertilizing the plants when you have an olla?
I will actually be posting a video on this later in August! I do a combination of a direct feeding soak and then a foliar spray spaced two weeks between each other. The soak is great for a deeper,slower feeding, but the foliar spray gets immediate nutrients to the plant and can support during critical times (ie. Fruiting). Have you tried these? Any thoughts?
@@elliothuemann I mix up a liquid fertilizer and pour between the ollas and the plants but it's a lot of mixing jugs that I would rather not do so I look forward to seeing your methods. I have had to use the foliar spray on squash quite a bit. Still looking for a perfect/lazy solution. Thank you for responding
@@pansepot1490I did do it that way but since in California it only rains a few weeks the whole year the fertilizer isn’t breaking down in a way that the plants can utilize. I had some very bad blossom end rot on my summer squash as a result. If you get regular rain I’m sure that would be fine.
I think that depends on your values. The Ollas take up a fair bit of space but make the watering/maintenance a lot simpler. If you want to grow tomatoes, zucchini, or other large plants it could be worth it. Otherwise, if you want to maximize your harvest looking at a drip irrigation or just manually watering might be best. Hope that helps!
I think the problem is that clay pots are still expensive, and having too many of these take a lot of space. The most efficient way to use ollas is through Olla spikes or balls, that are connected to hoses that can even being fed by a bucket through gravity irrigation. And these can actually be burried under mulch and not being noticeable is opposition to big pots that stick out too much.
Half the diameter?! Everywhere else said around 18inches! This could be part of my (plants) problem lol! I don't think it's watering for 18". Maybe that's only for the doubled ones? (Doubled: two pots same size, only plug one. Glue the "mouths" together. You'll have to dig a much deeper hole, but holds more water. For covering the now smaller top hole what I've tried so far was to glue a small piece of pvc (1-2 inches long) over the inlet then just use the correct size "cap" for that size pvc pipe. I'm thinking of trying to use some smaller saucers next year (once I can double another olla or two) and see how that works. Currently slugs still find there way into some of them (not the one with a pipe over the opening). Really want to keep them out. Second year of this and mosquitoes found their way into one. I crushed a bit of a mosquito dunk and put inside. Seems to have done what it's supposed to. Just adding my experience. 🙂 I will try putting these closer together once I can get some more!
The doubles do seem to water a bit further out. I still like the singles because then I can get the slugs and mosquitos out when I get access during refilling. But I think preference is important! Mostly because of the frost here I’ve got to make adjustments! Thanks for sharing and good luck!
@@Kat-kv8mm I haven’t had a terrible time with slugs as of yet. When I refill my Ollas I look do slugs around the upper rim of the pot and try and get them to wash down and drown. I may need to keep thinking of solutions if slugs get more tricky though!
Dang! A little clay pot here (GA) is like $10! Ack! My collection of ollas is going very slowly. I use gorilla glue - moisten the clay pot - then just glue a rock to the inside hole (& if desired once dry glue a piece of plastic to the bottom for double protection. Cut it out from whatever you have lying around - like a rubbing alcohol bottle or milk jug, just whatever is available. 🙂) I also flipped over the "tops," and glued some lava rock pieces in it and fill it with water too for the bees and butterflies. Till it dries out anyway. Trying to get better at refilling the tops (& bottoms 😂) more frequently.
I LOVE the lava rock idea for the tops. I’ve turned a bunch of mine over and the good bugs and toads do seem to like it. Great idea to put some rocks such in there! Thanks!
Thanks for the olla DIY. Not to say they aren’t a great way to water plants but If you’re away you’ll need someone to fill them. -I still think drip irrigation is a great choice. Once you get the hang of it it’s really NOT complicated. -timers turns the system on when your away. Not all timers need to be connected to your cell phone but if you’re able you can control the system to not run on rainy days. -lots of drip emitters tips and even in-hose drip holes every 6” or 12” etc. So you’re not dealing with emitters. - cover the drip with mulch to retain moisture and keep soil cool -nothing is once and done. drip irrigation puts water at the root ball. Wastes less water with run-off, and so conserves water. -Laura with Garden Answer UA-cam channel has great videos on drip installation.
I have done drip in a bunch of other areas and agree that it works awesome. I wanted a super low tech option to try and my neighbor is willing to fill them up if I’m out for more than a week. I think in the right setting drip is definitely better at some things like you said. Thank you for sharing!
@@lizhallengren5127 totally. That is definitely a risk. The drip irrigation that I setup also has a couple of year life expectancy. So I’m thinking that for how easy this was to set up if I get a few years out of it then it will be very worth it.
Wait! Is this your first video upload - or do you have another channel? Either way - very informative and really helpful. I will say folks should shop around because terra cotta varies widely in price. If you have an eagle eye, look out for them in second hand or antique/"junque" shops to find good deals. Depending on how many beds you have to provide water to, buying all new pots will add up quickly. :-)
This is my first video in my year creative challenge to make and maintain a YT channel! You are so right, it does add up, especially if you can’t resuse some for whatever reason. Finding them secondhand is a fantastic idea. Thank you for sharing!
I encourage you to start using 6-8 inches of straw mulch on all of your beds. It does 4 things at once. One, it is a weed barrier. Two, it adds organic material and nutrients as it decomposes. Three, it retains moisture. Four, the light color reflects light aka heat. It is by far the best drought protection you can have in your part of the USA. I used to live in MIchigan our weather was similar to yours. This approach saved my garden more than once, while all around me people gave up. All the lawns were golden brown and as were most small gardens; watering became too expensive. Three years ago I moved to Western Oregon about 40 miles from the coast. Climate change has turned this area into a very drought prone place. A large bail of straw (do not use hay-too many seeds) is $15.00. It is available cheaper directly from local farms. My raised beds cover 128 sq ft. Last year one bale was more than enough. In late fall I covered my beds with black plastic so the very heavy rain that falls during the months-long rainy seasons wouldn’t wash away too much soil. I think the straw may mitigate this soil loss going forward. This spring, I added a great garden soil mix on top of the straw before planting. Just a light cover. Once most plants were in I spread this year’s straw mulch on top of the soil and around the plants. BTW the watering system you abandoned would have been completely obscured by a straw mulch cover, but more, it would have made it more efficient. I do not like to spend a lot of time with what I call maintenance watering. I am installing a Orbit $35 flometer/timer to manage maintenance watering, mainly to ensure I do not over water. I am retired so I am around 90% of the time. I hand water to apply plant specific nutrients. (If you still have the old stuff in the video I will pay the shipping for you to send it to me. I could use it.) This year less than 1/2 bale covered. Ollas work. And you can add plant specific amendments like banana water for tomatoes. I have a great area on my north side to put in mushroom beds and other cold, need shade crops.
@@elliothuemann I think you will love it but at least 4 inches but no more than 8 works very well. Right now it is 90 degrees outside for hours but if I stick my hand down thru the straw and it all wet/damp.
Wow this is so cool. I am absolutely trying this with our raised ornamental beds at my place of work. This will save so much time and energy! (Petunias are thirsty divas.)
I have a container garden. My sistem for watering each container when I go out, l put a bottle of water with holes near to bottom. I planted on the container. Fill the bottle, tap.
Combine this with a 3 inch layer of straw and you'd never need to water and will also be building up a layer of fertile, organic soil. Ollas are also a great way to deliver a fertilizer.
In two weeks I’ll share a video about how to make a mushroom bed with sawdust spawn. Add that to your straw and it will help break down the straw, keep moisture, and build soil. We win 🏅 thanks for sharing!
Didnt work for me. I linked 25 to a water barrell but nothing got enough water. Modern pots and not porous enough. Sink one in your bed a fill it with water to check.
I have heard the modern pots vary in effectiveness. Something about the kiln temperature. Mine have gone good, but I’m sorry yours didn’t work. I do know you buy explicitly low fired Ollas online. A bit more expensive, but could be worth it in your garden.
Yes. There are cheaper ways to implement the concept. Probably unnessary with a $15 bale of straw spread 6-8 inches on top. Those clay pots break easily and with 25 of them your cost??? way more than a bale of straw.
Hobby Lobby’s terracotta pots are cheaper than the big box home improvement stores. I’ve been using these for years. Try plugging them up with the flat marbles from the Dollar Tree and some epoxy glue.
I love your idea for the rubber stoppers. People don’t think about the fact that some of the glues and other options are not “food safe” and then use them for their vegetables. If you want to be healthy or “organic” those options are a bad idea.
Exactly! Last year I tested some of the other options and they either didn’t work or broke down into a chemical mess I didn’t like close to my plants. Thank you!
Great info, but but one small critique. I don't look for cheap and easy in my garden. A yard is cheap and easy. I look for smart. Frequently smart ideas are also cheaper and easier, but sometimes it's smarter to work harder.
Totally. I think you make a good point. Aim for smart and you may get cheap and easy as well. At least with some of these ancient technologies they are so simple that they end up being cheap and easy as well
Probably 4-6 inches from the pot. The real time this is harder is early before the roots are developed but as the season goes on the root will cross the distance to the olla. The roots are coming up around pots here at early August. They have definitely found the pot
Thank you for this cheaper, diy version of ollas ! The size and the price stopped me from buying any. I thought about drip irrigation, but they only last couple of seasons. Since I have hard water, I would also need a filter.
This is such an environmentally friendly idea. And I'll check out that book. Thank you !
The book is a great resource. If you have hard water you may consider building a simple rain catch system to fill up ollas from. That’s what I do both for cost saving and to reduce mineral build up. Thank you for sharing!
@@elliothuemannCould that be a topic, for a future video 😂 ?
Currently, I have a large plastic bin, 5 gallon buckets, and smaller containers, that I've been using to collect rainwater.
For this upcoming rainy season, I'm thinking of buying a large container - specifically for collecting rainwater. .
Just gotta figure out, how to get the rainwater falling from the house roof, into the container.
@@SpringNotes Definitely. I'll add this to the video list for projects to work on next! Thanks for the suggestion!
@@elliothuemannoooohh, thank you ! I'll be looking forward to it 😊
@@SpringNotesWhat an awesome idea for a video. I catch some rainwater but need to improve my game.
Love cheap ideas! I will tell you that one thing I learned quickly from experience is that straw or hay mulch (I know people use grass clippings too) works REALLY well to keep the soil cooler and keep the moisture in. It’s made the absolute biggest difference. I have found that 4-6” makes an absolutely fantastic solution to daily watering. We didn’t get rain for a month in NC and I watered my heavily mulched raised bed two or three times in that entire month. And I should add that is on top of a massive heat wave.
So true! I actually have added glass clippings right around my ollas to maximize the water savings! Thank you for sharing!
Yes, I was gonna say mulch too !
Cedar mulch will drive out bad bugs. But many places you can purchase cedar mulch sell a blend that has almost no cedar (Lowes/Home Depot), if you buy cedar shavings for animals the shavings are untreated without weird dyes or additives. Walmart sells it for $10 for 5 cubic feet and the smell of cedar is very strong so you know it's real cedar. My mom says Mendards sells good cedar mulch if you have one but they don't have a Menards in California
I use oya in potted plants. It is absolutely a game changer. PS Hobby lobby has terracotta pots without holes. 👍🏼😃
That is super good to know! Thanks for sharing!
I've seen them at Michael's, also. But I like Elliot's option of pulling out the plug during the winter.
Just checked hobby lobby website for these and saw a clay pot sealer 👀 anybody got any experience with that?….can I seal two pots together? Or is that over ambitious?
@@denyshadials5702 clay pot sealer is more of an outside varnish to keep moisture in I believe. You can definitely glue two pots together with some construction adhesive though! It’s messy but works great. Tons of videos on how to do that diy
This is one of the best descriptions of setting up Ollas system. Thank you
You're very welcome! I’m so glad you found it useful. It doesn’t have to be a complicated setup. That’s why I love it so much
So I think I will make one small change. Flip the tops so that they can catch some water. This will allow pollinators to drink too and I am wondering if water will drip down and in when it rains. I would maybe also add some rocks so that pollinators like bees can sit safely and to add some pretty.
I love this idea. I’m going to go out right now and flip some over to test it. I bet we could drill a hole in the saucer for a small bit of drainage but hopefully it will still keep some water for the ecosystem! Thank you!
@AdesinaCat such a great idea ! And with the added safety of rocks. I also place some succulent plants in the water. Also for the insects, the water stays cooler in the terracotta.
By flipping the top, you will have standing water which invites mosquitoes! Maybe flip only a few, then add a solar water pump to move the water. Of course, add rocks for pollinators!
@@belindaayewoh437 I use a product called "mosquito dunks" in my rain barrels & bird bath. It also comes in a more granular form "mosquito bits." You could put a small amount in the saucer to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs there. It is safe for birds & other creatures.
Flipping the saucer is a good idea. I do this for my 5 gallon vermicomposters (basically buckets with lots of holes). I put a large rock for polinators and lizards to sit, which is easier for me to move than a bunch of pebbles. I only recommend flipping if you live in an arid area where the water will evaporate or in a humid area if you can regularly dump the saucer... fine for vermicompsting but defeats the low maintenance purpose of using an olla.
Fantastic.Thank you so much for the extra detail about positioning the plug depending upon your climate.
You’re so welcome! I hope it helps in your garden!
Good idea with the rubber plug. Seems the most obvious solution, but I haven't seen anyone else offer it up
I went through so many other videos and sources before coming across this idea. So much simpler and honestly not much more expensive. The book I listed in the video description inspired me. Definitely worth checking out
Wonderfully thought out and presented, and a new method of olla I have never seen before! I may have to try one in my high desert climate to see if it's as effective as the narrow neck ollas. Here, one of those will need refilling every 24-36 hours in July and August. I have my ollas fed by my automated watering system and it saves me huge swaths of time.
One of my viewers told me about this video and I'm glad they did. Great work!
Thank you so much! And thanks to your viewer. I really appreciate the share. If you give it a test let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear about the experiment. 🔬
Thank you for such a simple solution. I was gifted some nice homemade ollas that were handmade and kiln baked, but once I started using them, I realized I needed more. Haha.
Haha I feel like that’s my cardinal sin in the garden…”if I just a had a few more…” 🙃
Never heard of a an ollas. Definitely going to try this method. Thank you
You’re welcome! I hope it goes well for you!
Love the rubber plug idea!!! I guess I'm going to Menards this week
Any excuse to go to Menards is a good excuse :)
I use 8” clay pots with rubber stoppers too. Depending on who makes the pot, either #5 or #4 stoppers do the trick. I live in the high desert of SoCal and this summer it has hit 112° in the shade. Here, they still need supplemental water and/or shade cloth (which really wants to blow away!). But I do think the clay pots help a lot to keep water available to the plants at all times.
If there’s room under the plant’s branches, I also usually invert a 3-gallon carboy (jug) of water into the pot instead of using a saucer as lid. That makes a longer lasting water reservoir, but I do find I have to “burp” them about every couple of days to keep the suction from slowing the water flow. Also they get algal growth so I wind up washing them out; undecided how worthwhile the carboys are.
That’s innovative though, I didn’t think about supplementing with a larger jug. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this idea! I like that you don't need to use any kind of glue or silicone with this method.
I tried that stuff and didn’t fall in love. I hope this goes well for you!
Thank you so much for such a simple explanation of using ollas! I’ve seen other videos, but most involved gluing 2 pots together then burying them. My beds are mostly clay, and have tons of roots to contend with. But I think I’ll be able to dig an 8” hole! Thanks again!
You’re so welcome! If you’re putting them in clay soil see if you can amend the surrounding ground with some compost or organic matter to help the water flow out from the pot into the surrounding area. The olla should be great to provide consistent watering to your plants but the setup will thank you for the soil amendment 🌱
I will definitely make an effort to do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
Interesting method
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your video. I have a raised bed and it drys so fast from our 90+ degrees temps here in the South. I will incorporate this technique this weekend.
I hope it goes great! We’ve hit the heat here and it’s so exciting to see the Ollas keeping up!
I'm also in the South.. suddenly we've gotten consistent rain over the past month .... the way it used to be decades ago.. I would have laughed at the idea of needing ollas here... but now I depend on them.. and also catch as much rainwater as I can to keep them and my fishtubs filled.. the fishtubs I've used for the past two years to conquer rainwater shortage. I don't like to use precious tapwater outside.
Thank for such clear and simple directions! I'm so tired of dragging my garden hose around and I don't like the way soaker hoses look either. I like the way the pots look, neat and tidy, and there's no hoses to trip on or kink up. I'm going to try this. 🙂
I’m so glad you liked it. I agree, I do think it is one of the cleanest irrigation system setups 💧
Love this video. It’s good to know there are other ways to water without using the water systems most gardeners are using. I am planting in pots and I am to know that’s they can be used in containers. I’m going to give this a try. Thanks for the idea.
You’re so welcome! Hope it goes well!
This is so great. I’d love to see your daily gardening routine!
Thanks for the suggestion! That would be a fun video to make, I’ll get on it!
Do you know if its okay to paint the lids?
Totally ok. I’ve actually thought about doing that with friends and family so I have different little art works around the garden. But no concern about it effecting the olla as long as the pot itself remains unglazed! Thanks for asking!
I just put a raised bed with legs today. I will definitely try this system for this fall crop season. Thanks and looking forward to your next video. From Santa Fe New Mexico ❤
Let me know how it goes! This system really shines in dry/desert areas so I hope it’s great. Combine it with a mulch/cover and it should work wonders for you :)
So the soil around the olla doesn’t crush the pot when the ground freezes? I am new to frozen ground, Seattle has had many completely frozen winter storms where the ground freezes.
Anyway, love the hint. I’m going to try it.
It’s a great question. I’m going to run tests and confirm over the winter for an update next spring, but in theory it should be fine. The pots can rise and fall with the ground movement so that part should be fine. What I’m unsure about is whether the capillaries in the clay will freeze and break 🤷🏼♂️ we recently moved from Seattle and I think ollas should be great there, especially July through September ☀️
Really good, clear advice. I would send this video to anyone who wants to use ollas. I have been using them or about a year at our work greenhouse and they work really really well. I have some waist high raised beds and they keep my basil safe even on the hottest days. I have also been putting them into containers with tomatoes and they really help keep the soil moist so that I don't have to water constantly.
Love a simple thing that works so well. Thank you for sharing!
What a good idea!
Some ancient garden wisdom! Glad you like it!
Great video, keep it up! I use double Ollas for potted plants 5 gal or more. Put a same sized terra cotta pot upside down over another. Use Silicone Sealant (caulking) to glue them together. Double water, have to fill it even less often.
Thank you! Sounds like they’re working well for you!
What size pots did you use? This has been a very helpful video and I really appreciate you posting it!
I mostly used 8” pots for the larger plants (tomatoes, broccoli, etc) and then the smaller pots for herbs are closer to 5”
@@elliothuemann Awesome! thank you.
I love this! Such helpful tips.
Great idea! I always wanted to try making my own olla but the price stopped me. Cheers!
Good luck! Glad this helps!
I’m using these this year for the 1st time and used cheap cork plugs they are not holding up supper well but should last the rest of the year. I’m definitely going to switch to those rubber stoppers next!
Last year I made some with cement in the bottom and then adjusted this year. Each year, a little better right? 😊
FANTASTIC presentation ❤
Good quality links to sources as well🤌
I’m so glad you appreciated it!
I wonder if wine corks could work as plugs too
I think it would be worth the experiment! If you try it reply here and let me know how it goes!
The synthetic rubbery ones? Wow. Suddenly I have a use for what I've collected! Awesome if this works!
@@AzaleaBee Let us know if it works for you!
Thank you. Thank you. Exactly what I needed
You're so welcome!
This is so helpful! 🙌🏼 I can't wait for more of your videos!
Thank you @jillhovden6909! Let me know if you give it a try. I’d love to hear how it goes!
I never heard of these before! Great system I plan to try on a bed that requires me to drag a 100’ hose to!
That is exactly what I'm going to do and for the same reason. LOL! I have a strawberry bed I have to drag a 100' hose to reach.
@@elizabethcohen1035 I know right I hope this works great with your strawberries
Thank you for the plug solution. I haven't gotten pots because of the hassel of plugging up the holes with putty or concrete. This is going to be great because my garden is to spread out for irrigation systems. Have you used smaller pots and if so, what size and what size plugs?
I have used smaller pots. I put some sizes and plugs in the description. It takes a bit of back and forth measuring and experimenting because every pot manufacturer can make the drainage holes a bit different.
You are in Minnesota where it freezes. Even if you go to the trouble of removing them before the first hard freeze. You are describing a very labor intensive, high maintenace system with a potential for catastrophic failure as soon as it freezes, which, where you are, is a certainy.
I am going to do some tests unplugging and leaving some pots in the ground to see how it goes, but even if I have to pull them up in the fall I don’t mind. It’s a much easier system for me personally. I love that there are no moving parts.
@@elliothuemann Like me, so it seems, each year your gardens become a place for wonderful experiements. I loved terracota / clay pots for many years, just something gardeny about them. But breakage became too much to overcome. I apply the Ollas concept but used recycled plastic plant buckets , drill holes in them near the bottom and then add fabric to slow the drainage. Seek function over form and let form follow in this case. I also fill them half full of compost (often plant specifc like banana peel soup for tomatoes) before I add water. I want those Ollas to fill themselves and keep working on how. Rain capture makes the most sense but here we may not get much rain from late June until late October. That means water storage in rain barrels.
As I approach 80 years old, I focus more and more on low maintainence, sustainable methods. I still try new things each year, like converting 3'x20' area where Lambs ear grew into a place where I can grow squash and melons. Lots of insects have been happy there for many years. So here comes the dishsoap spray. Good Luck-nice work!
@@theovillella1764 I like the innovation! Always keep experimenting
@@theovillella1764I am 72. Isnt it nice that we can still have fun experimenting?
Hey, where is the chart for the plug #'s compared to the pot size? Did I miss it?
Hey Belinda, good catch. I forgot to add it before, but just put it in the description. You may still want to measure and double check but those numbers should give you a starting place!
Awesome! Thank you. Great video!!!@@elliothuemann
New subscriber here! Thanks for this information!
Thanks @patriciaterry5539! Looking forward to sharing more like this!
Really well done video! We have the same issues with drier summers here in PA. Thank you for the idea! :)
Glad it was helpful! Let me know how it goes if you give it a try!
Great video, thank you.
You’re so welcome! Glad you enjoyed!
I'll be trying this method! I made some ollas using other methods but I have found them difficult to manage. Many of them broke over winter, and the sealing I did detached very quickly. So many of them needed to be redone and I didn't have time.
Same thing happened to me! Hence this video. Hope it’s easier for you
I would need to pull up the clay pots as they will not overwinter in WI.
Ya I hear you. I’m going to experiment with unplugging one and leaving it to see what happens 🤷🏼♂️
Do you know if this would work for recently planted trees? I do have a tree bag, but not sure if that bag is enough.
I wouldn’t use it for trees because I’d be worried about it watering too shallow for the roots to develop right. The book I linked in the description has some great suggestions for deep watering trees with a deep soaker pipe. Could be worth looking into
@@elliothuemann
Thank You! Didn’t think of that. I’ll check out the book. 😊
Thanks for yhe tip
No problem 👍
Thanks, what a great idea. I think I will place some near my raspberries. They are far back of my yard and too far for the hose to reach. Hand watering is a bear. Takes about 10 trips at least. Those babies are thirsty. Im getting older and this will help so much.
I have some hard to reach spots as well. This should help out a ton! Think about placing them every 2-3 feet and maybe mulching around them/the plants to maximize benefits! Good luck!
I would like to know how that goes!
I love love love my ollas, I have 12 raised beds and I've made/assembled ollas for them all this year, ollas have completely eliminated blossom end rot in my tomatoes. A rubber plug is not a method I've ever seen used, but I might give it a try if I need to make more. I find the only major con of ollas is fertilizing. I've heard adding fertilizer to an olla will clog it and granular fertilizer doesn't get enough water to make it available to the plants. In my climate I only get rain during about 1 month of the year. Any thoughts on fertilizing the plants when you have an olla?
I will actually be posting a video on this later in August! I do a combination of a direct feeding soak and then a foliar spray spaced two weeks between each other. The soak is great for a deeper,slower feeding, but the foliar spray gets immediate nutrients to the plant and can support during critical times (ie. Fruiting). Have you tried these? Any thoughts?
@@elliothuemann I mix up a liquid fertilizer and pour between the ollas and the plants but it's a lot of mixing jugs that I would rather not do so I look forward to seeing your methods. I have had to use the foliar spray on squash quite a bit. Still looking for a perfect/lazy solution. Thank you for responding
@@mtaylor9055 I agree, it still can be a lot of mixing. I’ll keep a lookout for more time saving ways to feed
@@mtaylor9055 mixing slow release fertilizer in the ground BEFORE planting the vegetables will last a season. That’s the easiest and laziest.
@@pansepot1490I did do it that way but since in California it only rains a few weeks the whole year the fertilizer isn’t breaking down in a way that the plants can utilize. I had some very bad blossom end rot on my summer squash as a result. If you get regular rain I’m sure that would be fine.
Thank you
Welcome! Glad you enjoyed!
I have limited garden space in raised beds (64sqft). Would you recommend this setup or would it take up too much space?
I think that depends on your values. The Ollas take up a fair bit of space but make the watering/maintenance a lot simpler. If you want to grow tomatoes, zucchini, or other large plants it could be worth it. Otherwise, if you want to maximize your harvest looking at a drip irrigation or just manually watering might be best. Hope that helps!
Thanks
I will try or yes, but I will soak them overnight and water so they could be saturated when I put them in the ground. Maybe it will help.
Give them a jumpstart 👍🏼
very interesting great idea.
Thank you! Let me know if you try it anywhere!
I think the problem is that clay pots are still expensive, and having too many of these take a lot of space. The most efficient way to use ollas is through Olla spikes or balls, that are connected to hoses that can even being fed by a bucket through gravity irrigation. And these can actually be burried under mulch and not being noticeable is opposition to big pots that stick out too much.
Half the diameter?! Everywhere else said around 18inches! This could be part of my (plants) problem lol! I don't think it's watering for 18". Maybe that's only for the doubled ones? (Doubled: two pots same size, only plug one. Glue the "mouths" together. You'll have to dig a much deeper hole, but holds more water. For covering the now smaller top hole what I've tried so far was to glue a small piece of pvc (1-2 inches long) over the inlet then just use the correct size "cap" for that size pvc pipe. I'm thinking of trying to use some smaller saucers next year (once I can double another olla or two) and see how that works. Currently slugs still find there way into some of them (not the one with a pipe over the opening). Really want to keep them out. Second year of this and mosquitoes found their way into one. I crushed a bit of a mosquito dunk and put inside. Seems to have done what it's supposed to. Just adding my experience. 🙂 I will try putting these closer together once I can get some more!
The doubles do seem to water a bit further out. I still like the singles because then I can get the slugs and mosquitos out when I get access during refilling. But I think preference is important! Mostly because of the frost here I’ve got to make adjustments! Thanks for sharing and good luck!
How do you get the slugs out?
I've just been attempting to drown them so I don't have to touch any. Lol. *shudders* ick. 😝
@@Kat-kv8mm I haven’t had a terrible time with slugs as of yet. When I refill my Ollas I look do slugs around the upper rim of the pot and try and get them to wash down and drown. I may need to keep thinking of solutions if slugs get more tricky though!
Have you ever experimented with wicking beds? Once you're looking at raised beds in a hot or dry climate, wicking is the usual next step.
I have looked but they don't suit. My climate a ton. They seem cool in arid environments though!
Dang! A little clay pot here (GA) is like $10! Ack! My collection of ollas is going very slowly. I use gorilla glue - moisten the clay pot - then just glue a rock to the inside hole (& if desired once dry glue a piece of plastic to the bottom for double protection. Cut it out from whatever you have lying around - like a rubbing alcohol bottle or milk jug, just whatever is available. 🙂)
I also flipped over the "tops," and glued some lava rock pieces in it and fill it with water too for the bees and butterflies. Till it dries out anyway. Trying to get better at refilling the tops (& bottoms 😂) more frequently.
I LOVE the lava rock idea for the tops. I’ve turned a bunch of mine over and the good bugs and toads do seem to like it. Great idea to put some rocks such in there! Thanks!
Thanks for the olla DIY. Not to say they aren’t a great way to water plants but If you’re away you’ll need someone to fill them.
-I still think drip irrigation is a great choice. Once you get the hang of it it’s really NOT complicated.
-timers turns the system on when your away. Not all timers need to be connected to your cell phone but if you’re able you can control the system to not run on rainy days.
-lots of drip emitters tips and even in-hose drip holes every 6” or 12” etc. So you’re not dealing with emitters.
- cover the drip with mulch to retain moisture and keep soil cool
-nothing is once and done. drip irrigation puts water at the root ball. Wastes less water with run-off, and so conserves water.
-Laura with Garden Answer UA-cam channel has great videos on drip installation.
I have done drip in a bunch of other areas and agree that it works awesome. I wanted a super low tech option to try and my neighbor is willing to fill them up if I’m out for more than a week. I think in the right setting drip is definitely better at some things like you said. Thank you for sharing!
My big worry is that something might break and the cost of using water is rising
@@lizhallengren5127 totally. That is definitely a risk. The drip irrigation that I setup also has a couple of year life expectancy. So I’m thinking that for how easy this was to set up if I get a few years out of it then it will be very worth it.
Wait! Is this your first video upload - or do you have another channel? Either way - very informative and really helpful. I will say folks should shop around because terra cotta varies widely in price. If you have an eagle eye, look out for them in second hand or antique/"junque" shops to find good deals. Depending on how many beds you have to provide water to, buying all new pots will add up quickly. :-)
This is my first video in my year creative challenge to make and maintain a YT channel! You are so right, it does add up, especially if you can’t resuse some for whatever reason. Finding them secondhand is a fantastic idea. Thank you for sharing!
I encourage you to start using 6-8 inches of straw mulch on all of your beds. It does 4 things at once. One, it is a weed barrier. Two, it adds organic material and nutrients as it decomposes. Three, it retains moisture. Four, the light color reflects light aka heat. It is by far the best drought protection you can have in your part of the USA. I used to live in MIchigan our weather was similar to yours. This approach saved my garden more than once, while all around me people gave up. All the lawns were golden brown and as were most small gardens; watering became too expensive. Three years ago I moved to Western Oregon about 40 miles from the coast. Climate change has turned this area into a very drought prone place. A large bail of straw (do not use hay-too many seeds) is $15.00. It is available cheaper directly from local farms. My raised beds cover 128 sq ft. Last year one bale was more than enough. In late fall I covered my beds with black plastic so the very heavy rain that falls during the months-long rainy seasons wouldn’t wash away too much soil. I think the straw may mitigate this soil loss going forward. This spring, I added a great garden soil mix on top of the straw before planting. Just a light cover. Once most plants were in I spread this year’s straw mulch on top of the soil and around the plants. BTW the watering system you abandoned would have been completely obscured by a straw mulch cover, but more, it would have made it more efficient. I do not like to spend a lot of time with what I call maintenance watering. I am installing a Orbit $35 flometer/timer to manage maintenance watering, mainly to ensure I do not over water. I am retired so I am around 90% of the time. I hand water to apply plant specific nutrients. (If you still have the old stuff in the video I will pay the shipping for you to send it to me. I could use it.)
This year less than 1/2 bale covered.
Ollas work. And you can add plant specific amendments like banana water for tomatoes. I have a great area on my north side to put in mushroom beds and other cold, need shade crops.
Thanks for all the info! I’ve incorporated mulching, mostly with grass clippings for now, but the straw might be a great idea for me for next year!
@@elliothuemann I think you will love it but at least 4 inches but no more than 8 works very well. Right now it is 90 degrees outside for hours but if I stick my hand down thru the straw and it all wet/damp.
@@theovillella1764 mulch is a game changer!
You would be a very interesting gardener to visit! Thanks for the info
@@lizhallengren5127 thank you so much!
Pine needles as mulch, free, clean and biodegradable, no grasshoppers hiding in the straw
Pine needles are great. They can make the soil more acidic, but some plants love that! Thanks for sharing
Wow this is so cool. I am absolutely trying this with our raised ornamental beds at my place of work. This will save so much time and energy! (Petunias are thirsty divas.)
I have a container garden. My sistem for watering each container when I go out, l put a bottle of water with holes near to bottom. I planted on the container. Fill the bottle, tap.
Simple and effective. Thank you for sharing!
🎉
Combine this with a 3 inch layer of straw and you'd never need to water and will also be building up a layer of fertile, organic soil. Ollas are also a great way to deliver a fertilizer.
In two weeks I’ll share a video about how to make a mushroom bed with sawdust spawn. Add that to your straw and it will help break down the straw, keep moisture, and build soil. We win 🏅 thanks for sharing!
Didnt work for me. I linked 25 to a water barrell but nothing got enough water. Modern pots and not porous enough. Sink one in your bed a fill it with water to check.
I have heard the modern pots vary in effectiveness. Something about the kiln temperature. Mine have gone good, but I’m sorry yours didn’t work. I do know you buy explicitly low fired Ollas online. A bit more expensive, but could be worth it in your garden.
Yes. There are cheaper ways to implement the concept. Probably unnessary with a $15 bale of straw spread 6-8 inches on top. Those clay pots break easily and with 25 of them your cost??? way more than a bale of straw.
Hobby Lobby’s terracotta pots are cheaper than the big box home improvement stores. I’ve been using these for years. Try plugging them up with the flat marbles from the Dollar Tree and some epoxy glue.
Thank you for mentioning the pots are cheaper at Hobby Lobby !
That is great info! Thank you for passing it on!
I love your idea for the rubber stoppers. People don’t think about the fact that some of the glues and other options are not “food safe” and then use them for their vegetables. If you want to be healthy or “organic” those options are a bad idea.
Exactly! Last year I tested some of the other options and they either didn’t work or broke down into a chemical mess I didn’t like close to my plants. Thank you!
Great info, but but one small critique. I don't look for cheap and easy in my garden. A yard is cheap and easy. I look for smart. Frequently smart ideas are also cheaper and easier, but sometimes it's smarter to work harder.
Totally. I think you make a good point. Aim for smart and you may get cheap and easy as well. At least with some of these ancient technologies they are so simple that they end up being cheap and easy as well
what radius are you getting from your terra cotta pot ollas?
Probably 4-6 inches from the pot. The real time this is harder is early before the roots are developed but as the season goes on the root will cross the distance to the olla. The roots are coming up around pots here at early August. They have definitely found the pot
In New Mexico we like our water like we like our sex- long, slow and deep.
Terracotta is not cheap option here
Shoot I’m sorry about that. Sometimes you can find used terracotta on a buy nothing page. Otherwise probably other options like drip eh?