What is an Olla...?
Ollas (pronounced oy-yuh) have been around for centuries and was a low-tech way to irrigate crops. Ollas are pots made of hardened clay which have not been painted, glazed or coated (basically clay that has been fired to a specific temperature to allow for porosity). So I’m affectionately calling the Olla a Garden Hydration Station!
So why should you use an Olla? Ollas provide gardeners with some great benefits:
Conserve water in your garden
Water gets distributed deeper in the soil near the plant’s roots making it much more efficient
Greatly reduces water loss due to evaporation when compared to drip irrigation or surface watering
Here in California, the weather is warm and the winters are mild. Using an Olla is a great way to keep plants watered, especially in the height of summer since it works by slowly releasing water directly to plant roots under the ground. This saves a lot of water since there is very little evaporation on the soil’s surface and you will end up watering your plants less.
Home gardeners nowadays use Ollas in various sizes and purchasing them can get pretty pricey. So I wanted to find a way to make Ollas more accessible for more home gardeners. Making your own Ollas using readily available terracotta pots is both easy and inexpensive. Plus, you can even add a touch of whimsy to your Olla by painting the cover – also making it a wonderful gift for your garden or friends!
Here’s what you will need:
Terracotta pot (unglazed, painted, or coated) the size is up to you and should be proportionate to the planting area you will be placing your Olla)
Matching terracotta saucer (the saucer should fit over the top of the terracotta pot and have some overhang -- this will be used for the cover to your terracotta pot once it’s been filled with water)
Cork (optional)
Waterproof silicon (optional if using cork)
Accent tile or flat rock (optional – if you are not using a cork, this can be used to add a decorative touch inside your Olla when sealing the hole in the terracotta pot)
Acrylic paints (optional, if you want to decorate the saucer)
Glass beads (optional, if you want to decorate the saucer)
Clear coat waterproof paint (optional, if not painting the saucer)
Tip: You can make your Ollas even more inexpensively by sourcing free pots, paints, accent tiles or repurposing what you already have at home! Glass beads can be found at most dollar stores. We encourage everyone to Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse!
Let’s make it!
Take your terracotta pot and seal the hole. You have two options. First option is to simply use a cork if the size of your terracotta pot permits – you can use the whole cork or cut in half if you don’t want so much cork protruding inside/outside of your pot. The second option is to use waterproof silicon. You can use just the silicon by itself to fill in the hole, or add a special touch by using an accent tile or flat rock on the inside hole of your pot using the silicon to seal up any gaps. Allow silicon to dry fully per product instructions.
If you are decorating the cover to your Olla, now is the time to do it while your silicon is drying.
You can adhere glass beads with silicon on the bottom side of the terracotta saucer. Or, paint the bottom of the terracotta saucer with one color, multiple colors, add a design or saying that you like. When the paint has dried, spray the entire saucer (top and bottom) with clear coat waterproof paint. This seals in your artwork for your Olla cover. With either option, allow to fully dry.
If you don’t decorate the cover, well…you’re done!
How to use your Olla:
With your Olla completed, dig a hole big enough where you want to place your Olla (planting bed/box or planter). The Olla should fit snugly into this hole – if any gaps around the outside of the Olla, fill in with soil. Place the Olla in the hole and allow for the Olla pot (uncovered) to have 1” above the soil surface. Fill the Olla with water to 1/2” from the top. Place the clay saucer upside down, giving you a perfect cover for your Olla. The cover also prevents insects from laying eggs inside or debris from getting into your Olla. Refill with water when needed.
You can tell that your Olla is working if the soil around the Olla looks moist compared to the surrounding soil. The plant roots will find the source of the water and will start to grow around the Olla. Pretty cool, right!?
If you like this DIY – let me hear you say, “OH-YEAH!”
Happy Gardening!
Comentários