MichelleAnyone using ollas in your garden? I love using them in mine and I'm trying to find a source for decent quality ones. Any suggestions? If you make your own, what do you use to seal them from leaking?
Sarah dreams of beans@LibraryFinch The ones @potterybyosa makes look really dreamy :)
@LibraryFinch Tagging @RobotDiver in case they are up for sharing diy olla tips 🌱
Robot Diver 🌊🌬️🍃🌿🌸🌱🌱🌱I've made mine using two large terra cotta pots and food grade silicone. You also need something to seal the bottom of the pot. I usually use a cut out plastic yogurt lid
and then seal it over the hole with the silicone, then I seal the two pots together with more silicone. You can use a terra cotta saucer to cover the hole between fillings. If you have concern about possible heavy metals in the terra cotta you can run a mix of water and white vinegar through the evaporation process a couple times and then a clean water run before you bury it.
It works well but nothing as gorgeous as @potterybyosa 's ollas!
@beandreams @LibraryFinch @potterybyosa
Apparently Italian terra cotta is certified heavy metal free, but I've never found them here.
@beandreams @LibraryFinch @potterybyosa
That's no diss to terra cotta from other countries, just the nature of some clay deposits.
@beandreams @LibraryFinch @potterybyosa
I don't remember the exact science behind the vinegar wash, but the acetic acid either bonds to or releases the heavy metals. Something like that.
Sam Levine@LibraryFinch I'll second the pottery by Osa suggestion above, also @drtcombs uses them and might have a suggestion on where to purchase some
Melissa
cwicseolfor@LibraryFinch I love that several of us came to plug the same potter.
@cwicseolfor
Me too!
Me too!
Emily van Lidth de Jeude@LibraryFinch I originally used terracotta pots, which seal from soil and roots pretty quickly, but now I just use plastic 1 gallon pots because they're free and the threat of plastic is smaller than the threat of drought. I've found that if I start watering the pots early, the plants' roots train down deeper and they're set for much less watering, come drought-time. They don't sleep out slowly like a terracotta olla, but they deliver water down deep where it can't evaporate. No plugging needed.
@emilyvanartist
That's interesting. I might try that! Thanks for the reply.
That's interesting. I might try that! Thanks for the reply.
Catherine McCarthy@cfmccarthy
Thank you!
Thank you!
NilaJonesI have a lot of empty plastic jugs. I keep meaning to lay one on its side with the lid slightly dripping, when I plant seedlings. This thread reminded me
White trash olla