Happy Thursday, Friends! It's time for this month's Creative Craft blog hop guest hosted by Donna from Modern on Monticello. Today I'm sharing a DIY pollinator puddler and self-watering olla. Maybe you've never heard of either--no worries, I'll show you how to make both
If you've hopped over after visiting Ann from Apple Street Cottage, welcome and I'm glad you're here! Forgive me if I've sounded like a broken record with my constant references to the extreme Texas heat, but I have lived here my entire life and this is the hottest and most unrelenting summer ever! As you might imagine, the scorching sun and ongoing daily heat advisories prevent me from puttering in the garden or watering as often as I would like, but my watering woes inspired today's craft. Are you familiar with ollas? Clay pot irrigation has been used for thousands of years. Placing unglazed terracotta underground allows the water to gradually seep directly to the plant roots. While I've read that one strategically placed olla can water several square feet, buying them ready made could add up quickly. Here's my DIY version plus the pollinator puddler I created to top it!
Here's what you'll need:
Pebbles and garden blooms
Start by covering the hole of an 8" unglazed terracotta pot with silicone glue or clay. Then, while you allow the patched spot to cure, dig a hole where you want to place your olla. Next, arrange pebbles and a few flowers in the pot's saucer and add enough water to cover the pebbles to create the puddler. Last, place the sealed pot in the hole so only the top portion is exposed, fill with water, and top with the pollinator puddler. TIP: Curing time will depend on which type of silicone clay or glue you use, but be sure to test that it doesn't leak from the bottom before placing it in the ground.
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Since my olla is a new project, I only started with one. Once I have time to see the results, I plan to make more before planting for fall and I'll share updates!
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Cecilia this is not only functional but pretty. I can't wait to here how well it works and I want to make a few of my own. Thanks for sharing a brilliant idea! Tammy - Patina and Paint
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of an olla before today, Cecilia. This is a fantastic way to irrigate plants in your garden and yours looks so pretty! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI have to say what Ann said, I never heard of Olla, how neat is this. I don't have a green thumb but it was nice to see how you did this.
ReplyDeleteCecilia, I hope you've realized how it seems like none of us in this craft hop has heard of an olla or a pollinator puddler! This is so amazing and inspiring! We all need to seriously consider this irrigating technique especially with climate warming! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOlla is a new word to me too, it is a great concept! I have used the upside down water bottle method with success to water plants and I recently learned that you can use ice cubes to water indoor plants like orchids. I will have to try this Olla method, it looks so pretty!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAlexandra
OnRockwoodLane.com
Great idea! I love DIYing to save $$! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteCecilia,
ReplyDeletewhat a great project!! I honestly have no idea how you stand that heat....I have such a hard time physically in the Summers and NEOA heat is nothing like yours but we gt tropical humidity anymore!! Crazy!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Deb
Cecilia, I’ve never heard of a pollinator or an olla so I’m happy to learn something new. It’s pretty too.
ReplyDeleteHi Cecilia, I will be sharing this tomorrow on Whimsy Home Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteYour pollinator puddler is so interesting to learn about! That's definitely a great idea to try out. Thanks for teaching us something new!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a puddler but it is certainly very pretty. Let us know how it works out for you.
ReplyDeleteThe heat in Texas this summer must be unrelenting. I have been reading about the weather in your part of the country and - yikes- it is no joke. I had never heard of an olla - so I am intrigued. I am going to try your idea in my garden. (Although I live in upstate NY so its not as hot as Texas). Thank you for sharing this post with the Home Imagined Link party.
ReplyDelete