BEAT THE HEAT - on a Budget: DIY Self-Watering Olla Irrigation

Spring. In most states, that might mean the ground begins thawing, plants awaken from their dormancy, and fresh new blooms and delicate seedlings sprout. In Texas, it means buckle up buttercup, the heat is on. After fluctuating from the low 30s and 40s for a few weeks up to comfortable 70s, the Texas heat came back with a vengeance. We hit 95°F by the 9th of April and I was ready for it this year.

Having lost enough of my plants to the scorching heat these past years, I did my research on self-watering pots and planters well before winter was over. I did as we all do and dove into what felt like too many Youtube videos and a host of articles telling me what I should and shouldn't do, only to finally come to the conclusion that I could not afford any of it. That is when I discovered OLLAS!

Reality struck again shortly thereafter, and I realized I could not afford those either. No slender-necked, elegant irrigation pots for me. However, I found a solution that works very well, and all you need are a few terracotta pots, some clear silicone and a rock or two (or glass stones, because some pretty things fit in small budgets too)! The heat can come, and you have continuously watered plants. I find these especially great for plants that need to stay consistently moist, but do not like wet feet or having their foliage watered! You get a lot of bang for your buck and your plants will thank you for it!

Follow these EASY STEPS to make your own!

What You'll Need:

- Terracotta pots

**Note: Make sure you use terracotta pots. The porous structure allows the water to seep into the soil slowly.**

- Clear silicone

- Rocks, pebbles, glass stones

Gather your supplies as shown in the picture. Line the inside drainage hole of one of the pots with silicone, and place a stone there to seal. While this is drying, you can head on to step 2!

Line the rim of the same pot with silicone and then place the second on top to form the olla. Silicone is a forgiving product to work with and the rim by no means needs to be perfect. Run your finger along the seam of silicone protruding on the edge to make sure you get a smooth seal without any gaps. Let dry for about 30 minutes.

After waiting for the initial drainage hole seal and rim to dry, it's time to come back and flip the olla over. Fill the drainage hole blocked with the stone with silicone up to the outer edges and on top to create a watertight seal.

Once dry, plant your olla near your plant (not directly next to it). Leave approximately 1/5 of the olla exposed above the soil for filling. Once you fill it to the brim with water, place a rock over the open hole to prevent evaporation. The olla will water your plant(s) continuously even througout the hottest of days. Done deal!