Irrigate like it’s 2000 BC with these easy DIY terracotta watering pots called ollas, by Gardening Australia on YouTube. 3 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes plus 24 hours curin
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Buy two equal-sized unglazed terracotta pots, about 13 cm across. Check that the pots are not sealed with a shiny coating, because water has to seep through the clay walls.
Cut a disc from a plastic milk bottle to cover the drainage hole of one pot. Silicone it in place on the inside and the outside so the hole is fully sealed.
Run a bead of food-safe weatherproof silicone around the rim of that pot. Press the second pot on top so the two rims meet and line up.
Smooth more silicone around the outside seam with your finger. Leave the joined pots to cure for about 24 hours.
Fill the joined pots with water and watch the seam for leaks. If water seeps out, tip it away, let the pot dry and reseal the join.
Dig a hole in the garden bed or planter and bury the olla upright, leaving only a couple of centimetres and the open neck above the soil.
Firm the soil gently around the olla. Air pockets stop water spreading and stop roots growing, so press out the gaps as you backfill.
Fill the olla through the open neck with rainwater, warm-up shower water or tap water. Cover the opening with a saucer or stone to keep out mulch, rubbish and mosquitoes.
Check the level with a wooden chopstick or thin bamboo stake and top up every few days to a week, depending on the weather, soil and pot size.
Tips and common mistakes
In good soil, water spreads at least the width of the olla in every direction, so a small olla waters a smaller area.
Squash, melons, watermelons, tomatoes and chilies suit ollas best, but tree roots can eventually crack one.
Use silicone rated for water tanks and drinking water plumbing, since the water sits against the seal.
Push a float with a small flag inside the olla if you want to see the water level from a distance.
Questions
How often do I need to refill an olla?
Expect to refill every few days to a week. Dry soil pulls water out faster, wet soil slows it down, and a bigger olla holds more.
Can I use glazed or painted pots instead?
No. Glazed pots are sealed, so water cannot leach through the walls and the olla will not water anything.
Will an olla work in a potted plant?
Yes, it works well in planters. Sink it into the middle of the pot when you change crops and plant seedlings around it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
