Gardeners Embrace Ancient Technique with Modern DIY Terracotta Ollas

A recent online video by gardening enthusiast "Humblebee House" (mygardenburner) has showcased a cost-effective and simple method for garden irrigation using DIY ollas. The video, uploaded on May 8, 2023, demonstrates how to construct these traditional watering devices from two terracotta pots. The process involves sealing the drainage hole of one pot with a moldable glue, such as Sugru, and then joining two pots together using aquarium silicone sealant, chosen for its non-toxic properties. After allowing the sealant to cure for 24 hours, the completed olla is buried in a garden bed, leaving the top opening accessible. According to the creator, the unglazed terracotta's porous nature allows water, once poured into the olla, to slowly seep into the surrounding soil, providing consistent hydration to plants. This technique aims to keep plants "nice and hydrated throughout the summer" by efficiently dispersing water directly to the root zone, potentially reducing water waste and manual watering frequency. The hack has garnered significant attention, with over 34,900 views and 1,428 likes, highlighting a growing interest in sustainable and practical gardening solutions.

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Gardener shares ancient maintenance method: 'Keeping your plants nice and hydra…

One TikTok user showed how they make an affordable ancient irrigation method using just a couple of terra-cotta pots.