Thirsty Earth Olla Watering System Review

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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.