Based in Humboldt County, Northern California, we produce quality handmade ceramic wares for the home and garden. Clay and other materials that are native to California are used when possible.
Based in Humboldt County, Northern California, we produce quality handmade ceramic wares for the home and garden. Clay and other materials that are native to California are used when possible.
Buried clay pot irrigation is a super-efficient method that helps save water and time in the garden. Historically, buried clay pot irrigation has been used to water various crops and plants in dry climates around the world. This technique was written about in China over 2000 years ago by the agronomist Fan Shengzhi and was likely used a long time before that. People have used this technique in the Americas for many centuries. Irrigation pots are commonly referred to as “ollas” and “oyas.”
Conserve water by reducing evaporation and over-watering. Use up to 90% less water than top watering!
Save time by watering less often. In some cases, 3 weeks between filling can be achieved, even during dry season!
Water plants while you're away on vacation!
Reduce weeds and disease by avoiding top watering!
Improve germination, and growth rate!
Control pests like slugs and snails! These pests love wet environments created from top watering and they rely on water to move around; irrigation pots help to avoid this. They will also tend hide around the pots, making them easy to locate and remove during the day.
Irrigation pots work great for strawberries!
With this technique, porous ceramic pots are buried with the openings above soil. The pots are filled with water which slowly seeps through the porous vessels directly to roots and soil over the course of several days, for up to about two weeks. This method is often referenced as the most efficient irrigation technique in terms of water conservation; it is up to 10 times more efficient than surface irrigation and even more efficient than drip irrigation. Irrigation line can also be attached to the pots for a more automated filling system.
A post-harvest investigation of a thick and healthy cannabis root mass that engulfed an irrigation pot.
Irrigation pots are used in many places, such as farms, gardens, restoration sites, and for propagation. Irrigation pots can work with almost any plant including vegetables, berries, trees and bushes, especially plants with good horizontal root systems. There are many benefits to using this technique, which provides a consistent and regulated water supply directly to the root zone of plants.
Irrigation pots work great for tomatoes!
Irrigation pots can be used in a variety of environments and with a variety of different plants. When initially placing the pots, you can dig a hole approximately the size of the effective watering diameter and place your soil amendments within that area. Pots should be buried as deep as possible; leaving about an inch or two of the pot above the soil is usually good. If soil under the pot isn’t compacted, the pot may eventually sink down a bit. Use straw or mulch on the surface of the soil to help prevent evaporation.
For best performance, soil should be thoroughly wetted before using the pot. This will help water permeate from the pot further out into the soil and maintain sufficient moisture. Dry soil can become hydrophobic which will reduce the absorption and effectiveness of an irrigation pot. If pots and soil around them are allowed to become completely dry, make sure to thoroughly rewet the soil around the pot when refilling it.
Irrigation pots work great for lettuce!
Generally, seeds should be planted within a couple inches of the pots and may need to be top watered until they germinate. Starts can be planted further out from the pots and may need top watering until the roots spread out towards the pot. Leave enough space between the plants and pots so that the pots are still easy to refill when the plants are full grown. Since plants tend to grow towards the sun, place larger plants on the sunny side of the pot. For trees, pots can be removed and used elsewhere after the tree is established. Eventually after many years (usually 10-15) tree roots may actually be strong enough to crack the pots.
Plants like carrots or radishes should be located closer to the pot because they have smaller lateral roots.
In average soil, our “Large” irrigation pots (148 ounce volume) can irrigate slightly more than a 36 inch diameter area or containers up to about 40 gallons. Our “Medium” irrigation pots (140 ounce volume) will also cover up to about a 36 inch diameter area, or containers up to about 30 gallons; they are shorter than the larges, so they work nicely in shallower containers. The “Small” size (22 ounce volume) will cover up to about a 24 inch diameter area and are typically used in pots/containers of about 3-10 gallons. The “Mini” size (8 ounce volume) Variations in soil can affect this radius- soils with extra sand might have a smaller effective radius while soils with extra clay might have a larger radius. Extra large irrigation pots can be made upon request.
Irrigation pots in a garden bed amongst zucchini, kale and peas.
We do not recommend putting fertilizer or plant food in the pots. It is difficult to tell how much of it will pass through the pot, so we suggest just using water inside them. If calcium / minerals build up on the pots, they can be soaked in vinegar and scrubbed. Pots will become discolored on the outside from minerals, algae, moss etc.; this is normal and won’t affect performance.
When these small huckleberry bushes are big enough to transplant, the irrigation pot will be transplanted into the ground with them.
In places where there is a long winter with a hard freeze, the safest bet is to remove the pots and empty them since water expands when it freezes and can break the pots. However, some people will leave the empty pots in the ground and cover them with straw or something else for protection during the winter.
Propagate cuttings in soil more easily with irrigation pots. This Cecile Brunner Rose cutting was planted close to the pot where is stayed moist and grew roots.
Cultivating some moss.
Superfine Playa osteria uses CaPotCo irrigation pots for native plants and wildflowers throughout the restaurant. Installed by SunMonsters landscaping.
Custom lids for ollas at Moon Made Farms.
Our irrigation pots perform well, are easy to use and last for a long time. They have been used extensively by professional and amateur growers.
We make our pots in California with materials from the U.S.A. We support the local economy and community by working with local businesses, organizations, educators, schools and community gardens. We provide discounts and donations whenever possible to help increase access to education and food.
The irrigation pots we make are superior to homemade DIY ollas and plastic bottles with pinholes. Although homemade ollas made from repurposed terra cotta pots perform better than perforated plastic bottles, they still have performance issues for many reasons. They are often too porous, sometimes not porous enough, have lower durability, toxicity, proportions that aren’t as useful and dark colors that absorb heat.
Our irrigation pots are easy to fill and are designed to have proportions relative to root growth and container shape. Our pots are made with durable non-toxic white clay that stays cool in the sun and has the correct porosity for efficient irrigation. Our pots are an investment that will last for many decades and will pay back through saving time and water while increasing success in the garden.
Thank you for looking!
