All About Clay Pot Irrigation + DIY Olla! And FAQs!

[@MotosAllotmentGarden]

Made some like yours about four years ago and they work great,😊

[@GreenLove1]

@@MotosAllotmentGarden oh that's great! I use them mostly for my houseplants now, since I have doubled down on actual irrigation in my garden!

[@hankb1604]

I like your idea of plugging the drain hole and then burying the pot and just covering the wide opening.....much easier to refill. Thanks.

[@GreenLove1]

Yes, I certainly find it much easier too!!

[@CatsRuleTheUniverse]

I’m so happy I found you. I must quickly prepare. It’s going to be around 112-115 F first and second week of July. Thank you so much.

[@GreenLove1]

Omg, that is VERY hot! Stay safe, hydrated and cool!!!!

[@kellywalton4195]

I too am in 9b, Sacramento and no matter how hard I try, I cannot get in front of the watering in our scorching heat. I just learned about Olla’s and am now obsessed about learning everything I can about the Olla system and making or buying Olla’s for my gardens.

[@GreenLove1]

I know what you mean! You are even hotter than where I live in the Walnut Creek area. Ollas have their limitations to, like any watering system. I usually use them to augment my existing drip irrigation, for certain plants that I really care about a lot, like my blueberries, that need constantly moist soil.

[@kellywalton4195]

@@GreenLove1 yeah my blueberries really suffered last year from lack of water and the heat. I did shade them but just couldn’t seem to give them enough water. They are in half wine barrels so this year I am going to pull them up and take out all the dirt, line the inside with some really heavy duty weed cloth, amend the soil and add an Olla to each pot along with the drip line and shade them when it starts the heat wave.

[@suesheridan6419]

I live in Sloughhouse. My blueberries died from heat last year. Plan to use ollas this year.

[@GreenLove1]

Oh no!!! Hope ollas work out for you! Good luck!

[@kellywalton4195]

@@suesheridan6419 I am also doing that. You are not too far from me.

[@beesandseeds]

I’ve never heard of this is fascinating. Thank you for sharing.

[@GreenLove1]

Definitely fascinating and works so well, can't argue with ancient proven technology

[@michelleinthemeadow]

Great tips. Thank you for sharing all of the FAQs. With this extreme heat, it's time to really think about other methods. Very interesting on the clay pot thickness - I'll stick with more smaller pots.

[@GreenLove1]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I so appreciate it. Yes the double-pot irrigator with the two smaller pots is much better than a thicker walled bigger pot.

[@michelleinthemeadow]

@@GreenLove1 Fantastic. I am excited to try these out.

[@GreenLove1]

@@michelleinthemeadow please check back in, or maybe make a video when you try it(I noticed you have a wonderful channel!)

[@michelleinthemeadow]

@GreenLove1 will do. Thank you for your kind words. I'm excited to dig into your channel, too.

[@hieronymusmeilink8316]

Excellent information, much more detailed than other videos on this subject 😊

[@GreenLove1]

Very kind of you to say that! So glad you found it helpful!

[@geralynhunt4553]

I cut a plastic cup 1 inch high, put marbles in the bottom to hold it down and plug the hole. I love the Ollas. May have to fill them daily, but no more splashing water and my plants are happier.

[@GreenLove1]

That's a neat idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@LoveMusic-pd5iz]

So glad to find this and learn about using plumber's putty to plug the hole. I don't have corks and other moldable materials are so expensive!

[@GreenLove1]

Glad you like it!!💚

[@LoveMusic-pd5iz]

FYI to stick to pots together you can also use aquarium sealant.

[@GreenLove1]

Oh did not know that, Thanks for the tip!

[@lawrencejohnson3259]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing!!👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@GreenLove1]

Glad you liked it! Have a nice weekend!

[@JMcKey21]

This is a really lovely video. Thank you.

[@GreenLove1]

I am so glad you liked it!💚

[@JMcKey21]

@@GreenLove1 On my way to the store right now to buy some clay pots!

[@GreenLove1]

@@JMcKey21 oh, how exciting! I hope it works out well for you!!!

[@susancowan9359]

Thank you for the great video demonstrating how to make and use different types of Ollas. I garden in a very humid zone 6A and I am redesigning my garden this year (5th year) as I need to get around the low flooding areas of our 1.75-acre property, plus I am hoping to expand my garden area this year. I will still have to pot all of my trees as we are still looking for property to purchase and establish our homestead, plus our rent went up by $275 this year which is ridiculous. I am subscribing to look through your channel to see what else I might be able to glean from your experience. May God always Bless you with good health, safety, and prosperity in all you do. ~SuzyJC-In-Central-Southeastern-Ohio_03.10.2024~

[@GreenLove1]

Thanks so much for the kind blessings ! You made my day! I appreciate you watching my videos, and I really hope you get value from them. Have a blessed Sunday ! 🙏💚

[@Lflower1Stars]

I just starting using the ollas...I use a rubber 2 inch plug to cover the hole.

[@GreenLove1]

Great idea!

[@sharondawilliams2469]

I enjoyed your video. You have the best warm smile. I’ve been doing so much research about Ollas and this tutorial showed me the simplest no hassle way to make mine. Thank you for sharing.

[@GreenLove1]

Thanks you so much for you ur appreciative comments! It means a lot! And thanks for the compliment as well!! ☺️💚

[@Pankaj-Verma-]

Video was really informative, thanks for sharing.

[@GreenLove1]

So glad you found it helpful!!

[@cheryltavares2757]

I like the idea, wouldn't it be more cost effective to use the plumber's putty to merge the two pots?

[@GreenLove1]

Yes, that should work well!

[@maryjomorrison3523]

Can I use an olla in my house plant mature (about 10 years old) pothos? If not, which self-watering method should I consider using, or none at all? Currently, I take the pothos, put it in my tub and water it that way. I would like to just fill it where it sits without having to lift it and carry it to my tub and then water it and wait a day or two for the water to drain away. I need a better system especially due to the fact that I am right-handed and have a disability with 4 disks out in my neck and back and find it difficult to lift even the lightest of things. I have to watch the weight, or I can be in pain for days. Thank you for your very informative vid and FAQ. I love it when I come across someone like you that pays attention to detail and considers every angle of a topic or lesson. You go into great detail which is very useful for novice/beginners like me. Thank you!

[@GreenLove1]

Thanks so many kind words! I use the watering spikes, that I shared at the end of the video, to water my pothos. I stick a wine bottle on the top, and all I need to do is refill the wine bottle about once a week. It works quite well for my pretty large pothos. Hope this helps you!

[@kellywalton4195]

Is the sealant non-toxic?

[@GreenLove1]

I recall googling it at the time and it said that it was non-toxic

[@acmdlaj]

Just made a few of these using silicone adhesive since i had it on hand. Unfortunately the water did not seep out even though my pots are unglazed. Could be too thick? They look just like yours. Bummer such a great idea.

[@GreenLove1]

Are you sure? It's sometimes not obvious. Do this test. Put two identical pots side by side, fill one with water, and leave the other empty. Leave in a shady spot or indoors. Check the next morning to see if there is a color difference in the two pots. If the one with water is darker in color, then it is working

[@GreenLove1]

Are you sure? It's sometimes not obvious. Do this test. Put two identical pots side by side, fill one with water, and leave the other empty. Leave in a shady spot or indoors. Check the next morning to see if there is a color difference in the two pots. If the one with water is darker in color, then it is working

[@victoriadegand2393]

Love mine

[@GreenLove1]

Yess!!!

[@lan-phuongnguyen4304]

What did you think of the watering spikes and how did they compare to your terracotta pots?

[@GreenLove1]

The watering spikes are great for indoor plants, I use a pretty glass wine bottle, looks nice. I tried using them outdoors too, but with our California HOT DRY summers I had to refill the bottles everyday which was a big pain, so I stick with the pots outside! They are doing quite well!

[@lan-phuongnguyen4304]

I’m in Southern California. We will be traveling for two weeks in July. I’m trying to figure out how to water my plants during this time. Usually ask a neighbor to water for me. Will try the clay pot idea. Thanks.

[@GreenLove1]

@@lan-phuongnguyen4304 good luck. Use silicone to seal the hole and joints instead of putty, it is much more reliable.

[@GreenLove1]

@@lan-phuongnguyen4304 good luck. Use silicone to seal the hole and joints instead of putty, it is much more reliable.

[@danielanedelcu7887]

La ringrazio per il video! Le racconto come irrigo ache io con i vasi: interro il vaso fino al livello del suolo e lo riempio con rami secchi senza copriro con coperchi. In questo modo anche i piccoli animali possono bere senza annegare e poi, quando piove i vasi si riempiono di acqua piovana. Se non piove si riempiono mentre irrigo con la canna. Se ho bisogno di un terreno molto umido ricopro la terra con dei pezzi di tessuto di cotone che faccio entrare anche nei vasi, poi copro il tessuto con la pacciamatura.

[@GreenLove1]

What a fantastic way to do it. I have to try this. Thank you for sharing!

[@eaglehigh-h3e]

I am not an expert, but I see a disadvantage using this in a container. The potting mix in a container has nutrients in it everywhere in the container. We want the roots to reach out everywhere in the container to uptake the nutrients, not only near the Olla. Seems like can't beat hand watering the plant, to make sure the entire container is moist, top to bottom, side to side.

[@GreenLove1]

That's quite logical. The idea is not to replace hand-watering or irrigation, but to provide some roots an additional backup in case things dry out faster than normal. Roots can't reach out too far anyway, so it's only the roots withing about 6-8 inches of the ollas that will have access to it

[@auroracazares1262]

Hello! Just wondering how do you fertize your plants when using ollas if putting liquid fertilizer is not recommended

[@GreenLove1]

Just the way you normally - fertilize in the soil directly - just don't pour liquid fertilizer inside the olla.

[@chuffedleupagus]

One question I have is whether an olla can completely replace manual watering. I have one next to a teenage size tomato and it definitely perked up after I supplemented with overhead watering (for the first time) the other day. I do check the water level in the olla almost every day.

[@GreenLove1]

I have seen setups where the series of Ollas with automatic refilling heads feed from an irrigation line were the only source of watering... So I guess with sufficient Ollas in place, they can replace other watering

[@dasdayday]

Nice video! The stakes are perfect for my annual window boxes!

[@GreenLove1]

@dasdayday thanks! Oh, nice, LOVE window boxes!

[@MalaysianTropikfusion]

When people bring their ollas inside during winter, what do they do with the gaping holes that're left in their pots and the tender roots that surround them?

[@GreenLove1]

I would fill in soil in the holes. Roots will adjust!

[@ingoditrust1543]

How far should you place the ollah’s? How many every foot?

[@GreenLove1]

I like to plant within 6 inches around the olla, so 12 inches apart sounds about right

[@Ambroise1268]

I learn that using plumber patty and gorilla glue was less measy. Can i put a barbeque stick with a cork below just to see the water level with out opening the cover of the olla . Did you use a water moisture meter to compare how much and the distance or area the moisture can go. I have a four feet fruiting papaya tree can i use olla to water them.

[@GreenLove1]

@@Ambroise1268 Yes you can certainly do that to see the water level in the area. Have not experimented too much with water meters for distance. I would imagine that a papaya is super thirsty and ollas might not be enough, But they could supplement additional needs.

[@samsam-oh5py]

i used plumber putty but it does not harden, it is soft even after 2 days

[@GreenLove1]

It's not supposed to harden. You can use silicone if you prefer that.

[@Angebaby1237]

I think the glue being toxic and the pit being so porous, is not what I nat to use for altering my organic plants.

[@GreenLove1]

Yep, whatever makes you comfortable is what you should do

[@musashimiyamoto586]

In my opinion an olla serves no purpose for a plant when it has to be filled up daily. They are best used for slow feeding of certain vegetables or smaller plants.

[@GreenLove1]

Thanks for sharing your perspective