Olla gardening is an ancient method of plant irrigation - considered the original drip irrigation system, Ollas are unglazed clay pots buried underground along side plants. The pots are filled with water, which then gradually seeps out through the porous walls into plants root zones. The Ollas are a very efficient watering system, especially convenient for regions that are prone to drought, and helpful for people who may have black thumb.
The Olla system is incredibly low tech and easy to use. Just fill the pots when the water level is low, and let the clay pots do the rest of the 'work.' The clay pots eliminate the common runoff and evaporation problems of typical irrigation systems, while allowing the plants to absorb nearly 100% of the water.
Ollas can be used with nearly any type of garden, but should avoid areas with woody plants, as their roots can break the pots. Additionally, ollas should match the size of the plants - shallow rooted plants should be matched with shallow ollas, etc.
You can make your own Ollas if you're handy with the wheel, you can craft one out of standard inexensive clay pots (use the tray as a lid), or buy them online at the Peddler's Wagon for $20-27.
Watch this video for quick and easy instructions:
Top Image via Peddler's Wagon, other images via Pasadena Housewife.
(Originally posted on 3.9.2009 - JL)
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This is genius!
They can't be used in any areas where we have frost or freezing.
Wangari Maathai used this method in Kenya with the Green Belt Movement to reforest the country. Plastic soda type bottles can also be used, or even metal cans, with a hole in the bottom and something to cover (the cans) open top.
My dad has always used a plastic milk jug with holes punched in it. Free, easy, green (ish).
I've used the plastic soda bottle method in my containers of tomatoes--prick a hole in the bottom, bury it next to the plant, and fill the bottle. It probably works in moister climates, but I'm finding three soda bottles (16 oz., I think) isn't really sufficient for two tomato plants in a dry, hot climate (and it hasn't even been that hot here yet). I think I'm going to have to switch to a soaker hose so that I don't have to fill the bottles three times a day.
I am interested in these, I wonder if mosquitoes breed in the water though?
I tried the plastic-bottle-with-with holes method, but my soil was too sandy and quick draining for that to be effective. These pots may overcome that.. Many plants prefer warming water on their roots, especially tomatoes.
This is such a brilliant idea. My biggest gardening problem is going out of town just when we're hard up for rain, then coming home to withered, half dead plants. This would be a great solution for that.
We do have a big mosquito problem here, so my solution for that would be to use the soda bottle with holes poked approach, save the cap and screw it back onto the bottle after filling.
Mosquitoes were my first concern too, LAZYSMURF, but looking at the pictures above it looks like you could put a river rock or some other stone as a "lid" to keep them from getting in and breeding.
Like my dad before me, I use a gallon milk jug buried to grade. Pop the top back on when filled & hide under a layer of mulch.
You could also put a small piece of window screen over the top and secure it around the neck with a ziptie or something to keep bugs out? Then you can just pour right through the screen to re-fill.
I have a huge garden, so am looking for a more cost effective alternative to these. I like the milk jug idea, but have mostly edibles and would like to avoid plastic and aluminum leeching in the soil... any other ideas on something to re-use for this?
Window screen or maybe a mesh fabric would keep bugs out and reduce evaporation too?