Dripping Spring Ollas Small Olla Watering Pot

Check out our Olla demo here!

Water Less and Save Money!

Instead of watering plants (which causes runoff and evaporation), this small terra cotta pot goes underneath soil and releases water directly to roots. Just bury, fill with water and put on the lid.

Clay pot irrigation has been used for generations as an efficient way to water your garden and household plants. Great for conserving water, saving time and reducing your costly water bill. If you live in an area where water usage is limited, then this is the perfect solution for managing and saving your precious water.

Helpful Hints:

You can use the Olla with any plant, but keep in mind, plants with woody roots (trees and shrubs) may cause the Olla to crack. (Cracked Ollas will still work though.)

If you live in a climate where the ground freezes, remove your Olla for the winter season (if kept outdoors).

Seeds and young plants will need to be watered the traditional way (topical) until their roots are developed enough to get water from the Olla.

Great for container gardens and planters

Holds 4 cups

3 lb

Made in Mexico

Bury under the soil. Keep some of the neck exposed, so soil and mulch do not get in it (about 2-3 inches above ground works best). Fill with water.

Note: Fill 2-3 times/week (varies with soil type and climate).

1. What is an Olla?
   An Olla is a clay pot used for irrigation. It is buried in the ground or container neck deep and filled with water to supply water to surrounding plants. The roots will grow towards and around the pot. The process works by soil moisture tension: when the soil is dry, the water is pulled out, when the soil is moist, water stays in the Olla. Olla irrigation has been used for thousands of years.An Olla is a clay pot used for irrigation. It is buried in the ground or container neck deep and filled with water to supply water to surrounding plants. The roots will grow towards and around the pot. The process works by soil moisture tension: when the soil is dry, the water is pulled out, when the soil is moist, water stays in the Olla. Olla irrigation has been used for thousands of years.
   
   
2. How does an Olla work?
   The Ollas are made of unglazed, porous clay. When an Olla is filled with water, the water is pulled out through the wall of the pot, due to Soil Moisture Tension. Roots of the plants help create a suction by absorbing available water, drying out the soil and causing tension in the soil, against the water in the olla, (think dry paper towel and water on a counter).
   
   When the soil is dry, water is pulled out of the Olla, when the soil is moist, the water is not pulled out of the Olla. This creates a direct supply and demand system. The roots will eventually grow toward and around the Olla, allowing even and consistent watering.
   
   Plants are never over or under watered. If the Olla is only partially filled, and there is a lot of rain, water will go back into the Olla by way of gravity, decreasing the splitting of succulent fruits such as tomatoes and melons.
   
   
3. How often should the Ollas be refilled?
   This is determined by a few variables
   
   how much water your plants use
   soil type
   temperature
   rainfall
   
   Also, the Ollas are handcrafted so there may be some minor variation among pots.
   
   On a conservative side, fill the Ollas 2 times weekly. If your area gets around 30 inches of rain annually, you may be able to go for 5-7 days without filling the Ollas.
   
   If mulch is used as a cover, and your area gets a little rain monthly, it is possible to go up to 10 days without refilling. You’ll find the pattern for your area with a little observation and common sense!
   
   
4. How deep do I bury my Ollas?
   Bury the Olla with enough of the neck exposed so that soil and mulch do not wash into the pot. Leaving 2 inches showing above ground will usually do the trick.
   
   
5. How long will my Olla last?
   Your Olla will last for years, with a little TLC. If leaves or light things fall into the olla, fill the olla with water and as the item floats up, swish it out. If you find a lot of dirt has accidentally gotten in the Olla (it happens), dig the Olla up, tilt in on its side and spray the inside with your hose until the dirt washes out. You can clean your Olla with a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water if your water is full of minerals. Pour one gallon of water AND one gallon of vinegar in your Olla and let it sit for a few hours. Use a scrub brush for removing debris on the outside. First, remove the Olla from the ground if using vinegar for cleaning.