First off, thanks to my grandmother. She taught me how to do this long ago. I still remember walking in the garden with her as we set up my painting lessons sometime around age 6. We would play and work in the garden until we found something we both wanted to paint.

We lived in zone 10b, so its hot! Our summer were a bit too much for some of her favorite plants so she showed me how she kept them watered on those icky hot summer days. She buried a jarrito ( a clay drinking mug) and covered it with a ceramic saucer. The are commonly called olla.

An olla is a low fired clay ceramic vessel. You burry it with just the top above the soil level, fill it with water, then cover it to prevent evaporation and to keep out mosquitos. As the soil dries out, water from the olla seeps out of the vessel making the moisture available to the nearby plants.

There are a couple of other DIY variations on this using 2 terra cotta pots held together with silicone. I prefer the jarrito because it is faster, you don't have to worry about the bottom hole in terra cotta pots and you don't have to smell the silicone caulk.

This is a very simple, inexpensive way to keep your plants hydrated, save water, irrigate less often and have happier plants.

You can find Jarritos at most Mexican grocery stores for one dollar. Get the ones that are not glazed or painted. they can also be found on Amazon for a higher cost.

Supplies

Jarrito / cantarito de barro check your local Mexican grocery store for the $1 version

4.5 inch Terra Cotta Clay Saucer

Flat Glass Marbles or pebbles

Step 1: Burry the Jarrito/olla

Dig a hole in your container or bedThis. Make it deep enough to burry most of the olla. Mine have little lip and I use that as a guide. It will allow from maximum contact with the soil and still leave room to cap it.

Step 2: Pack the Soil Around It

Firmly pack the soil around the olla, this will help with efficiency. The more soil that is in contact with the clay, the easier it is for the water to seep into the spoil.

Step 3: Fill

Fill the olla with water

Step 4: Cover

Use the terra cotta saucer as a lid.

I like the saucers because they are inexpensive, they fit well, and I can use them in two ways

Upside down, they do not collect standing water thus avoiding any mosquito problems

They can also be used right side up to acts as a bee or butterfly bath.

Step 5: Bee Bath Cover

Take the saucer and flip it right side up. Add a few of the flat glass marbles a little water and boom. A nice little Bee or Butterly bath for those hot summer days.