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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] Buried unglazed pots as watering system

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  • From: "L.Santoyo Designs" <santoyo@earthflow.com>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Buried unglazed pots as watering system
  • Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2006 10:48:57 -0800

Peter Morehead,

In our Design Courses we talk about the unglazed pot as mimicking a natural spring or seep... We have used several variations of the "unglazed pot" in heavy (clay) soils and in sandy soils. The commonality that led to success was not necessarily the pot design but the addition of wood chips and other course organic matter.

The great thing about the clay pots is they work with very low pressure delivery. -you can put a drip line with or without an emitter. (someone else on this list was asking about low pressure systems and drip?)

We have glued two terra cotta pots together -with the wide tops one upside down on the other -seal the bottom opening -use the other opening to fill -then plug with a wine cork to prevent evaporation (and to prevent lizards and other little creatures from being trapped).

We have also buried (single) larger pots and then used the next size up terra cotta saucer as the cover. (we still put a little stick or rolled chicken wire to offer a bridge out for over curious lizards that somehow got under the saucer)

We use two or three around each tree and use several in diamond pattern for larger garden spaces.

The frequency and number of pots used, of course, depends on your soil.

Good luck,


Larry

Larry Santoyo, Director
EarthFlow Design Works
805.459.0452
http://www.earthflow.com/consulting.html


Hello all,

Does anyone have experience using buried terra-cotta pots filled with water
as a watering system? Does this really work, work well, and for many years?

Here's my design: I'm planning to catch rainwater on a 16th story roof and
divert it to a 14th floor rooftop garden. I'm considering diverting some of
the water to a series of 8 large buried terra-cotta pots [unglazed]. The
tops of the pots will be screened to keep out mosquitos. The water will
[hopefully] slowly seep through the pot wall to moisten adjacent soil. The
idea is to keep plants happy with a consistent level of moisture and cut
down on maintenance time. So far, i've only seen this idea in drawings and
don't know if it's been tried with success.

Any advice is welcome - is this design worth the trouble?

Thanks in advance,

Peter Morehead

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