Do you want to start gardening but you don't have a green thumb? Or maybe cherry tomatoes already hold no secrets for you? Whether you are a beginner or a real pro, Oïa can save you time and above all allow you to save a lot of water! But what is an Oïa concretely? What are the advantages ? And above all, how to bury and use an Oïa? We answer all the questions you have about Oïa and their use.
What is an Oia?
An ancestral technique
Oïa (or Olla in Spanish) means “pot” or “pot”. Thanks to the porous walls of this terracotta jar, the roots of the plants come to stick to it and directly absorb all the water they need. Thus, the gardener does not need to water the entire surface of his vegetable garden every evening. This ancestral technique has existed for more than 4000 years! The oldest Oïa were used in China and later in ancient Rome. They are now real phenomena thanks to their many benefits.
Watering with an Oïa: the advantages
An Oïa can be buried in the vegetable garden or simply planted in a container or a window box. Then just fill it with water to water your plants. The advantages of Oïa are numerous, both for the vegetable garden and for its user:
It provides water savings ranging from 50% to 75%. It is a more ethical and eco-responsible way of watering than surface irrigation.
All you have to do is fill your Oïa every 3 to 10 days. The user can therefore go away for the weekend without worrying about the drought in the vegetable garden.
The soil is not wet on the surface which prevents the growth of weeds. It therefore requires less maintenance.
The roots of plants draw only the water they need. They cannot therefore be drowned or dried out, which allows optimal growth.
The plants will not feel any "water stress" thanks to slow irrigation adapted to the needs of the roots.
No watering on the leaves of your plants, which avoids diseases such as oomycetes.
Using an Oïa: outside and inside
Bury your Oïa in a container or in the ground in a few steps
Immerse your Oïa to soak it in water;
Dig a hole in the ground a little larger than the diameter of your Oïa;
Place your Oïa there and fill the hole up to the demarcation;
Fill your Oïa with water and let it overflow the first time;
Close the cap to prevent the water from evaporating or insects from drinking from it;
Refill your Oïa every 3 to 10 days.
Oïa are perfect for irrigating vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, strawberries, raspberries, cucumbers... But they are not suitable for plants and vegetables that are grown in rows (carrots, onions, leeks...) because this would require too many Oia.
However, it can be used with any type of houseplant, since each will have its own Oia.
Plant your Oia indoors
Indoor Oias are designed to adapt perfectly to your well-rooted potted plants. Thanks to its pointed shape, it is versatile and very easy to install.
All that remains is to fill it to irrigate your plant.
Little tips for optimal use of your Oïa
1 - You can add organic fertilizer to the water of your Oïa for more effective diffusion.
2 - Add mulch to the entire surface of your vegetable garden to protect it and retain moisture.
3 - Use clean water to fill your Oïa to prevent impurities from clogging the porous wall.
4- Dig up your Oïa in autumn or at the beginning of winter and store it away from the cold.
You finally know everything about the Oïa! You can now take a tour of our shop to see our different models. Do not hesitate to share with us the photos of your most beautiful plantations!