Thirsty Earth Olla Watering System Review

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Did you know you can water your entire garden bed without lifting a finger, without setting up an expensive complicated drip line system? (by the way, this method also wastes 61% less water than drip lines) This rainwater fed olla watering system from Thirsty Earth makes it possible - but if you’re a skeptic like me, let me explain exactly how this works and give you my full review of the Thirsty Earth system from my own experience installing and using it in my vegetable garden.

WHAT IS AN OLLA WATERING SYSTEM?

Olla (pronounced oya) means “pot” in Spanish, but the concept of using ollas as an irrigation system goes back thousands of years and has been used in countless cultures around the world. An olla watering system is basically an unglazed eight to ten inch terracotta pot that is buried beneath the soil with only a small amount sticking up above the surface and filled with water. The water then leeches out of tiny holes or “pores” in the unglazed clay and is pulled through the soil to the roots of your thirsty plants using a process called soil moisture tension. This functions much the same way as osmosis, in that the water is trying to equalize to a certain level of moisture within the soil. This means your soil will never become overwatered either - if the soil is moist, the water stays in the pot until it is needed. The downsides of DIYing a system like this are that it can be hard to identify true terracotta - and other types of clays have different properties that make them not as well suited for this job. Plus, you have to fill each one manually every 2-5 days depending on how hot it is and most importantly they take up a lot of room in the garden beds. But thankfully, with the Thirsty Earth system all of those cons are eliminated - but we’ll get to that in a minute.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE A Thirsty Earth OLLA WATERING System?

Hauling around a watering can and kneeling all over isn't exactly a walk in the park for everyone, especially folks like me with arthritis. This past spring, I was right in the middle of a flare-up when I planted my garden. I knew I needed a way to water my plants without turning myself into a pretzel! There are a ton of fancy watering systems out there, but I was on the hunt for something easy on the wallet and made with regular stuff.

Last summer was a scorcher, even though some reports were saying it would be the coolest we’d ever seen again! And all that heat wasn't helping the drought situation. By the end of August 2022, almost half (nearly 38%) of the entire U.S. was parched. That number is even higher in the lower 48 states, where over 45% of the land was bone dry. With climate change, things are only expected to get drier. No wonder our little town had water restrictions most of the summer! Restrictions like that mean dragging a hose around isn't an option anymore, so any watering system you use needs to be a real water-saver.

Imagine this: you water your plants, but most of the water just sits on top and bakes away in the sun. olla watering systems stop that waste! The water seeps out of the pot slowly, right where your plants need it most - at their roots. This fancy trick can slash your water use by up to 61%! Pretty sweet, right? Less water wasted means a lighter water bill and a happier planet.

Olla watering systems aren't just about saving water, they're also all about growing healthy plants! Since the water seeps out underground, plant roots stretch out searching for that moisture. This makes them stronger and helps your plants stand tall. Olla watering systems also keep the leaves of your plants dry, making it tough for fungus and disease to spread. And the slow release of water means your plants get the perfect amount to drink, never too much.

Basically, olla watering systems create happy, healthy plants that can take on anything!

Thirsty Earth Olla Watering System Review

Since it can be hard to find genuine terracotta pots affordably in your area, and they take up a lot of space in the garden, the Thirsty Earth olla watering system can be a good compromise that allows you to actually hook up your ollas to an automatic rainwater harvesting system that will continuously refill your ollas for you on it’s own from free rainwater collected from your roof. Plus they are about the size of a water bottle, so they don’t waste precious planting space. I added the Thirsty Earth system to two of my raised beds, and since the system is super easy to customize to whatever garden bed configuration you have, you don’t have to worry about not having the right parts or enough pieces to get it done. The website does a great job of showing you exactly how to lay out the cotta cups and it’s made an already pretty hands-off system completely self-sustaining; water is collected from my roof into a 50 gallon barrel, flows automatically into reservoirs and down the irrigation tube into individual terracotta cups. Setup is easy thanks to the push to connect fittings that come with every kit. You just lay out your cups, cut the included tubing to size and connect everything with the fittings. Once everything is set up, you can leave it all summer and the reservoir will refill automatically from your rain barrel or you can manually refill it about once a week.

WHAT PLANTS GROW WELL WITH the Thirsty Earth olla watering system?

Some people have asked me if olla watering systems work for all plants. It's true, different plants have different thirst levels and root systems. But in my garden (and from what my fellow plant lovers say), pretty much any plant can do well with an olla - from thirsty veggies like squash, corn, and beans, all the way down to little lettuces. The best way to find out what works for you is to give it a try in your own garden! Each cup has about a two foot radius in which the water will spread out and reach plant roots, so it’s a good idea to put your more water-hungry plants closer to the cup itself and plants that like drier roots further away. But, the roots will naturally be drawn towards the water source anyway, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it much! 

Thirsty Earth FAQs

I already planted my garden. Can I still add the Thirsty Earth Watering system?

Absolutely! You can totally add olla watering to your already-planted garden. Just be flexible with the placement recommendations. Instead of shoving the olla right next to your plants, give them some breathing room - think 3 to 6 inches away. The exact spot depends on how big your plant is and how deep its roots go. If you're worried about disturbing your plants too much, use an auger to dig the holes. Just take it slow and be careful not to bump any roots too much.

Do I need to surface water new seedlings with Thirsty Earth?

Planting seeds with olla watering is easy! Just sprinkle them within 6 inches (or about a foot in diameter) around the olla cup. This will make sure your seeds get enough moisture to sprout. Remember to plant the seeds at their usual depth though, because the top inch or so of soil dries out quickly unless it's covered in mulch. Otherwise, if you want to plant a little further away from the cups, you can just hand water the area lightly until the seeds germinate.

Where does the Thirsty Earth reservoir bucket go?

Stick your bucket somewhere in your garden bed, or even next to it. The key is to have the top of the bucket around the same height as your soil. This lets the water flow smoothly to your olla cups like magic!

How big are the Thirsty Earth cups?

The olla cups themselves are pretty small, about the size of a water bottle. They hold about 14.4 ounces of water, but that's not the whole story. They're connected to the reservoir, so they really can keep your plants happy for a long time. Each cup releases about a cup (250ml) of water every day, and depending on the size of your water bucket reservoir (2.5 or 5 gallons), you might need 6 to 12 cups to last a week. Don't worry about water pressure, these things work best with a gentle flow, kind of like a slow drizzle.

Does Thirsty Earth have a warranty?

Thirsty Earth wants you to love your watering system! They offer a 100% money-back guarantee for 30 days. If you're not amazed by how easy it is to grow healthy plants with way less water (like, 61% less!), just send it back and they'll give you a full refund (minus shipping costs). 

Can I leave Thirsty Earth pots in my garden all winter?

If you live in a place that gets super cold in the winter (think zones 8 and below where the temperature dips below freezing for a long time), it's best to take out your olla watering systems before things get frosty. They've tested them to survive a week at 16 degrees Fahrenheit, but it's safer to just bring them inside for the winter.

If you're feeling adventurous and want to leave them in the ground (no judgment!), just make sure to stop filling them with water 2-3 weeks before the first freeze. This gives the olla cups time to empty themselves out so they don't crack in the cold.

Olla Watering System: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Did you know you can water your entire garden bed without lifting a finger and reduce your waste water by 70% for about $5 using just a clay pot? Today I’m going to show you how to make a self watering olla pot system for your own garden.

What is an olla watering system?

Olla (pronounced oya) means “pot” in Spanish, but the concept of using ollas as an irrigation system goes back thousands of years and has been used in countless cultures around the world. An olla watering system is basically any type of unglazed clay pot that is buried beneath the soil with only a small amount sticking up above the surface and filled with water. You can tell that a pot is unglazed because it will be that classic terracotta red color with no shiny finish, glaze or paint. The water then leeches out of tiny holes or “pores” in the unglazed clay and is pulled through the soil to the roots of your thirsty plants using a process called soil moisture tension. This functions much the same way as osmosis, in that the water is trying to equalize to a certain level of moisture within the soil. This means your soil will never become overwatered either - if the soil is moist, the water stays in the pot until it is needed.

Why should you use an olla watering pot?

Watering the garden is a task that isn’t easy for everyone. Personally, I struggle with bending down and kneeling in the garden to water and weed because of my arthritis. When I was planning my garden this past spring I was in the middle of a bad flare and I knew I needed to choose an irrigation system that would ease some of the physical demands of gardening and allow me to continue growing all the fruits and vegetables I could without hurting myself. There are so many different watering systems available today, from drip irrigation to sprinklers, but I wanted to find something that was budget-friendly and used common everyday items.

An olla pot is perfect for garden irrigation because all you need is a clay pot and some type of lid. You only need to fill them every 2-5 days depending on your climate (hotter, dryer climates will be on the lower end of that spectrum and wetter, cooler climates on the higher end) and it takes just one minute or so to fill the pot from your watering can versus standing there for ages with a hose.

As of August 30, 2022, 38.23% of the U.S. and 45.53% of the Lower 48 states were in drought. With climate change on the rise, this number is only expected to get worse. I know in our tiny town we are under a water restriction notice for most of the summer, and this is a common issue in many neighborhoods. I’ve even heard a few reports that said to expect summer 2022 to be the coolest for the rest of our lives - and it felt like the hottest one yet. Not only does a watering restriction in your town eliminate hose watering as an option, it means any watering system you do use should be as efficient and waste as little water as possible.

Olla pots reduce wasted water by about seventy percent, since most of the moisture is held underground and not lost to surface evaporation. This is a huge savings over traditional watering methods and means you can significantly reduce your water consumption in our drought-prone climate. This will lower your water bill as well as make your homestead more environmentally friendly!

Olla pots also help you to grow happier and healthier plants. The root systems in your plants will also be healthier, as they reach out towards the underground water the roots will become larger and sturdier, keeping your plants from falling over. Most importantly, plants that are watered at the soil level are less prone to infection with certain fungal diseases that thrive in damp environments, since the leaves of your plants will not get wet as often. Because of the soil moisture tension phenomenon, your plants will also never be overwatered.

What is the best olla pot you can buy?

This DIY olla may not be for you if you can’t find genuine terracotta pots affordably in your area, or don’t have the time to make one yourself. If you can’t make your own olla, or you want hook up your ollas to an automatic rainwater harvesting system that will continuously refill your ollas for you from free rainwater collected from your roof, check out this automated olla watering system.

I added this drip irrigation/olla hybrid setup to 3 of my raised beds, and it’s made an already pretty hands-off system completely self-sustaining; water is collected from my roof into a 50 gallon barrel, flows automatically into reservoirs and down the irrigation tube into individual terracotta cups. Setup is easy - in my opinion, this is the perfect garden watering solution.

What plants grow well with olla pots?

There is some debate about whether olla pots work for any type of plant. Of course, all plants have different water needs and root systems. In my experience and from comments in my community, there doesn’t seem to be any plant that can’t thrive with an olla pot - from trees to squash, corn and beans, all the way down to simple lettuce. Experiment in your own garden and find what works best for you!

How do you make an olla watering system?

Here’s the supplies you will need to make an olla watering pot system:

• 1 eight to ten inch unglazed terracotta pot per 4x4 foot area - click here for the ones I use

• Moldable glue if your pot has a hole in the bottom (I like sugru)

• Plant saucer to use as a lid - click here for the lids I use

• A rock or two to weight down your lid
  

1. You will want to start by calculating how many olla pots you will need. As a general rule of thumb, you should have one olla pot per four by four foot area in your garden. The olla pot can water up to two feet away from where it is buried, which means even if your garden is just two feet wide by eight feet long you’d want two olla pots - one every two feet.

2. If your olla pot has a hole in the bottom, you’ll need to cover this so the water you put in doesn’t just pour right out the bottom. You can cover the hole in the bottom of the olla pot with sugru moldable glue, caulking, clay, poster mounting putty, a cork or something similar.

3. Dig out a space to bury your olla pot in your garden bed. You can olla pots in raised beds or in-ground gardens, but you’ll need larger olla pots for in-ground beds, ten to twelve inches should be fine. The hole should be about as deep as your pot is tall - however, my raised beds are too shallow to fully bury the pot and they still work fine.

4. Place your olla pot into the hole and replace the soil around the edges of the olla.

Fill the olla with water and cover with your chosen lid. This helps to keep bugs out and prevents the water from just evaporating before it has a chance to seep into the soil. My lid is very lightweight, so I chose to weigh it down with a rock and then decided to add even more small pebbles and rocks to create a watering station for pollinators.

Depending on your climate you will need to refill the olla every 2-5 days. I recommend checking it the day after you install to make sure there’s no leaks in your olla - if all the water is gone and it wasn’t a heat wave that day I’d check your seal and try again. Then check every other day until you get a sense for how often you need to refill the pot.

wILL YOU TRY THIS EASY WAY TO WATER YOUR GARDEN? lET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!