The magnificent Ollas of Lutton Pottery

Are you looking for a unique decorative accessory to water your plants? Have you heard about Lutton Pottery's Ollas and want to know more about their effectiveness?

We are passionate about decorative gardening and will explain everything to you.

The Ollas from Lutton pottery are terracotta water diffusers that continuously hydrate your plants. These porous clay vases are handmade in Vendée and allow for responsible and controlled watering. They release water gradually for gentle and continuous irrigation of the root system.

Our article will teach you:

• The benefits of Ollas for your plants.
• The History of Lutton Pottery.
• Which Ollas to choose depending on your plantations.

With our tips, you'll have discovered a fun and eco-friendly way to water your plants. You can go on vacation without worrying about your plants drying out!

Enough talk, let's find out all about it together now!

1. The Benefits of Ollas for Watering Plants.

Before seeing how Ollas are made, we will lay the foundations by recalling their operation and their benefits.

A) Natural pottery for more ecological watering

Ollas are small terracotta jars that are planted or buried alongside plants. The porous clay absorbs the water contained in the olla and releases it when the soil needs it. The roots capture the moisture contained in the soil, which is continuously irrigated gently and deeply.

This method significantly reduces the risk of overwatering. Flooding is the leading cause of indoor plant death. Plant owners often water them automatically, without monitoring the soil's moisture content. Unfortunately, the root system weakens quickly when waterlogged. This gradually softens and rots. This leads to yellowing and then leaf drop, eventually leading to the death of your plant.

Ollas can significantly reduce this risk since the water is released gradually .

In addition, it offers controlled watering and reduces the amount of water used by 3. The Ollas is therefore the ecological watering par excellence. Its natural terracotta does not release any chemicals into the water it contains. This problem sometimes exists in old metal watering cans whose paint flakes and no longer protects the metal. Even a broken Ollas in the ground would not harm the plant and would decompose naturally over time.

B) A self-contained watering system ideal for vacations

Just like with pets, the question of watering plants always arises when going on vacation. A few days' absence is easy for our plants to bear, but it becomes more complicated after a week.

Fortunately, self-watering systems are available to care for our houseplants while we're away. The terracotta Ollas is perfect for this purpose. Its water reservoir lasts from 4 to 12 days.

Choosing the right size for your tank will depend on several factors, such as the type of plant, the size of the pot, and the temperature. A large plant in a wide pot will need one larger Ollas or several smaller ones in the summer.

If you're going to be away for a long time, using several small Ollas can be a great idea. Place them around your plant so that they cover its entire root system . This will encourage your plant to develop all of its roots in a harmonious and balanced way.

2. The story of a Vendée family pottery

Now you've clearly understood the benefits of oyas for your crops and how they work. It's now time to tell you about an artisanal producer we're particularly fond of.

Let’s discover together the process of making Ollas as well as the places where you can find them.

A) La Poterie Lutton: between tradition and rediscovery of Ollas

TheLutton family pottery specializes in making terracotta Ollas. It is located in Vendée in the commune of La Merlatière, more precisely in the village of Le Four Lutton.

These artisans draw their expertise from manufacturing techniques that are more than 4,000 years old. Terracotta water diffusers are said to be a widespread watering method since the dawn of time in many civilizations. Traces of ancient pots have been found as far away as China. In Europe, the oldest date back to ancient Rome! Oyas are also very common in particularly arid areas, where water needs to be buried to prevent it from evaporating.

Deeply rooted in tradition, the Lutton family has nevertheless taken the gamble of revisiting it to incorporate it into today's homes. This includes smaller formats, compatible with the indoor plants of city dwellers.

One of the hallmarks of Poterie Lutton is the colorful glaze treatment they apply to their indoor Ollas. This makes them truly decorative objects that you can match with the colors of your apartment. Our favorites? The duck egg blue, light blue, and red glazes!

For a more original look, there's an Ollas shaped like a watering can! This is the perfect decorative gift for plant lovers!

B) How and where do they make their Ollas?

Lutton Brickworks specializes in the manufacture of terracotta objects, producing all kinds of them. If you were lucky enough to see their kiln in action, you would undoubtedly find building materials like bricks and tiles. But what interests us for our green corner are their flower pots and water diffusers .

To make an Ollas, potters take a brick of fresh clay and place it on a rotating plate. The choice of clay is designed to provide optimal porosity. They then operate pedals that rotate the plate. With their hands, the artisan shapes the clay, gradually giving it the shape of a vase. To obtain the most malleable clay possible, they do not hesitate to moisten it.

Once the pottery is ready, it is placed in a large, human-sized kiln for pre-firing and final firing. Temperatures then vary from 800 to 1100 degrees Celsius!

Our favorite? Since they're handmade, no two are exactly alike! Each Ollas is unique, and their small bumps give them their own unique identity and charm. Rest assured, we're talking about small irregularities typical of human work. However, you can be sure you'll never see any shoddy work or traces of industrial molding!

3. Ollas Lutton for all tastes!

Finally, it's important to introduce you to the different types of terracotta ollas. Not all gardeners use the same ollas, depending on their growing method.

Our goal is to guide you toward the Ollas of your dreams. Let's find out now!

A) Ollas to plant for potted plants

If you grow plants in pots or planters, the Ollas planter is for you! This one has a more compact format and places its water reservoir above the potting soil. This allows it to take up less space in the soil and allows the root system to develop freely.

The average lifespan of these water diffusers is 4 to 7 days. As we saw above, this will depend on the size of your plant and its pot, as well as the season. These diffusers always come with their caps to prevent any water evaporation.

Round models with or without enamel are the most common. They represent a perfect compromise between efficient watering and natural decoration.

Cone-shaped models allow you to recycle your glass bottles . They allow you to benefit from the clay water diffusion technique at a lower cost.

B) Ollas to be buried for the garden

If your plants are located in a vegetable garden, garden, or any other outdoor space, the Olas burying system is perfect for you. These systems are buried underground to keep water cool and irrigate the largest possible area.

Underground, they are also protected from shocks and bad weather. They take the form of large jars, but will be almost invisible to your visitors. Simply dig a hole and cover them with earth. Only their small cap will be visible!

To optimize your watering, we recommend burying them in the center of several vegetable plants in a flower bed. You'll then benefit from 6 to 12 days of peace and quiet and reduce your watering by 70%! This innovative system prevents any water loss through evaporation.

Grab your Ollas and unleash its full irrigating power!

As you can see, an olla from Poterie Lutton allows you to hydrate your plants while decorating your green space.

Whether you're growing a large garden, a vegetable patch, or a small houseplant, there's an Ollas that's sure to suit your needs.

Each Oya is made of the same porous clay, with magical properties!

Discover them now by clicking on the image below.