How To Water Your Plants
Start using your Olla today.
Setting up your Olla Pot
For raised beds, vegetable gardens, flower beds, and outdoor containers.
Step 1
Soak it for 15 minutes before you bury it. New terracotta is dry. Soaking saturates the clay walls so they release water evenly from the start.
Step 2
Dig a hole wide enough to fit the Olla with a few inches of space around the sides, and deep enough that only the neck sits above the soil line.
Pack the soil firmly around the sides. Good contact between the clay and the soil is what makes the system work. No air gaps. If the soil is dry, water the area lightly first.
Place your plants within the Olla's watering range. A large Olla Pots water up to a 3-foot diameter. A small Olla Pot waters about 2 feet. A mini Olla Pot waters about 1 foot.
Step 3
Fill with water and place the lid on top to keep out debris and insects and prevent evaporation.
Step 4
Refill when the water level is low. In moderate weather, most people refill once or twice a week. In hot summers, every 2–3 days. After rain, you may find it still full.
Setting up your Olla Spike
For houseplants, tropicals, herbs, and outdoor containers.
Step 1
Soak it for 15 minutes to saturate the clay before first use.
Step 2
Dig a small hole and insert the spike. You want direct contact between clay and soil. No air pockets. If your potting mix is very dry, water the soil lightly first.
Step 3
Fill with water and cap it.
Step 4
Refill when the water level is low. Indoors, most Spikes need refilling about once a week. Thirsty tropicals in warm, bright rooms may need more. Low-light rooms will need less.
Sizing
Small for 4–6 inch pots. Medium for 5–9 inch pots. Large for 8–12 inch pots. One Spike per pot is usually enough.
Going away for a few days?
Fill the Spike before you leave. Your plant draws what it needs while you're gone.
Why this works
The clay walls contain microscopic pores. When the surrounding soil is drier than the water inside, moisture is pulled through the clay toward the roots. When the soil has enough, the flow pauses on its own. Your plant regulates its own watering — you just keep the Olla filled.
Over time, roots grow toward the Olla and form a direct connection with the clay. That's when the real difference shows — steadier growth, stronger roots, and a watering routine that takes care of itself between refills.
Curious about the full science? Read how Ollas work →
What to expect
First few days
The Olla begins slowly releasing water into the surrounding soil. You might check it often. That's normal. You're learning the rhythm.
After a week or two
More consistent growth. Firmer leaves. Less of the wilt-and-recover cycle. You'll get a feel for how fast your setup uses water.
After a month
Roots are growing toward the Olla and establishing a direct connection to the moisture source. Steadier, more resilient growth.
Over the season
Roots have wrapped around the clay. Watering has become a quiet routine instead of a daily question.
Things worth knowing
Don't let it run dry for too long. Roots grow to depend on the Olla. If it stays empty, they can stress quickly. Keep it filled.
Soil type matters. Ollas perform best in well-draining soil, including slightly sandy or coarse-textured mixes. Heavy clay slows lateral water movement. Adding compost or other organic matter can improve soil structure and moisture balance.
If you're planting new seedlings or transplants near your Olla, water them at the surface for the first week or two until their roots grow toward the moisture source. Established plants will find it on their own.
It works with rain. When the soil is already moist, the Olla pauses its release. Nothing is wasted.
The surface may look drier than you'd expect. With an Olla Pot in the garden, the top layer often stays dry while the root zone below stays moist — that's normal and helps reduce weeds. In smaller indoor pots with a Spike, the soil may stay more evenly moist throughout. Either way, check the Olla's water level rather than the soil surface.
Remove it before winter. In freezing climates, dig up your Olla before the ground freezes. Moisture in the clay can expand and crack the terracotta. Store indoors. Re-bury in spring.
Not every plant wants this. Succulents, cacti, and plants that prefer dry-out cycles aren't a good match. Olla is for plants that thrive with steady moisture. If you choose to use an Olla with succulents or cacti, let the soil dry out more between refills.
