Build Your Own Ollas: Watering System for Raised Beds

Ollas: A Smart Watering System

Ollas originally come from the Mediterranean region. They are clay pots that are used as an irrigation system in the soil. Due to the porous structure of the clay, water is continuously released to the plants via the soil. As the clay pots are buried, evaporation is kept to a minimum. To do this, the ollas are buried in the raised bed so that only the top edge protrudes from the soil. The pots are then filled with water and covered.

As plants in raised beds are more exposed due to higher temperatures and drainage and dry out more quickly than plants in the ground, they often need more water there than when planted in the ground. Ollas are a simple and effective solution for using less water. You can find even more information on saving water in our article on Watering Plants Properly.

Greenhouse Irrigation With Ollas

Ollas can also help water your plants in a greenhouse. The slow release of water maintains a constant level of humidity, which is important for your plants. In this way, you can prevent drought damage caused by too little water, but also root damage caused by too much water. Good watering is particularly important for tomatoes, pumpkins, zucchinis, cucumbers and melons, for example, as these vegetables usually need a lot of water.

To do this, bury one or more clay pots in your greenhouse, depending on the area. You should plan for approximately one olla per m2/1.2 yd2 of bed area. However, the exact amount depends on the number and needs of your plants. Check their water level regularly and top them up with water as required.

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Watering System for the Balcony

Ollas are great for watering on the balcony. They offer a natural watering solution that is easy to use. You can make them in different sizes and shapes so that they can be adapted to the space available on the balcony.

Vacation Watering System From Clay Pots

When you go on vacation in summer, it is always a challenge to provide your plants with enough water. Ollas can be a great solution here to keep your plants sufficiently watered while you are away. The water is slowly released from the pot and waters your plants while you are away. However, you will still need to top up from time to time. Someone should check your Ollas once or twice a week to top up the water if necessary. How quickly your Ollas need to be topped up depends on conditions such as soil, rain, wind, sunlight and the water requirements of your plants.

DIY: Olla as a Pot Irrigation

If you want to make your own ollas, it's not difficult. Below you will find instructions on how to make these water dispensers yourself.

Make Your Own Ollas - That’s What You Need:

• Clay pots (unglazed and with a diameter of 10 - 30 cm/3.9 - 11.8 in)
• Clay adhesive (tile adhesive or wax may also be suitable)
• water
• A cover, e.g. a clay saucer or similar

Glue Clay Pots Together

Two clay pots are glued together to make an olla. The clay pots can be the same size, or you can use a slightly smaller one for the top one. This makes gluing them together a little easier. It is best to use clay glue or clay paste for this. However, you should first seal the hole in the lower of the two pots with a cork, stone or some mortar or silicone. You can also place a shard of clay on the opening with a little clay glue to seal it. Then apply a generous amount of glue to the edge of the pot. Place the second pot on the glued surface and press down firmly. No more water should be able to leak out between the two pots. Make as many ollas as you need for your bed area. You should allow for one to two ollas per m2/1.2 yd2. A bed in the sun needs a little more water than beds in the shade or partial shade. After you have glued the pots together, you should leave them to dry for a day before planting them in the ground.

Build Your Own Wartering System - Here’s How

Once your clay pots have been made, you can place your ollas in your beds or raised beds with the closed end facing downwards. The pots should still protrude a few centimeters from the ground (approx. 3 - 5 cm/1.2 - 2 in). A place in the middle is ideal for smaller raised beds. For larger beds, it is best to place the ollas near plants that need water. A circular arrangement of your plants around the ollas is ideal. Next, fill the ollas with water and close the top opening with a cover. This prevents water from evaporating or small animals and dirt from falling into the clay pots. The water is now slowly released from the pot to your plants. Check the water level in your Ollas regularly and top up with water if necessary.

Ollas Simply Homemade

You can also simply make an olla from a single clay pot. To do this, you also close the hole in the bottom of the pot, place it in the soil, fill it and cover it. This makes it easier to make and fill, but it also has a smaller volume.

Tip for DIY enthusiasts with the opportunity to make pottery: you can even make ollas yourself if you feel like it and have the opportunity. This saves you having to glue them together.

Ollas as a Watering Aid: Tips for Correct Use

When using Ollas as a watering aid, there are a few things to consider to ensure that your plants are sufficiently watered:

• Top up with water regularly to prevent drying out.
• Do not place Ollas too close to plants, this can impair root growth if the roots cannot spread properly.
• Best used in combination with other watering methods. Especially with freshly sown and young plants, you should use a watering can to help, as the roots of your plants are not yet well developed.
• At the beginning, you should water the soil in your bed or raised bed well. As the soil dries out, water will be released from the clay pot until the moisture level is back to the same level as before.
• Important: In winter, you should dig out your ollas again to prevent them from bursting in the event of frost.

Our tip for saving extra water: Mulch your beds with grass cuttings or wood chips. This will keep the moisture in the soil for longer and save even more water.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ollas

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Cover picture by congerdesign on Pixabay.