Watering during drought: The rediscovery of the "Oyas"

In Saint-Jean de Fos in the south of France, André Martin has found a revolutionary way to save plants from drought by using a very small amount of water. This solution is actually 4,000 years old, but had been almost forgotten until André rediscovered it. Now he wants to let everyone know about this ancient, automatic watering system. Say hello to the "Oyas"!

 

Oyas are clay jars that you bury in the ground so that only a small part of the top is exposed.

Youtube / Mon jardin & ma maison

Once buried, they're filled with water and closed.

Youtube / Mon jardin & ma maison

To keep the soil moist, it's mixed with some wood chips and moss to form a mulch that is placed around the jars.

Youtube / Mon jardin & ma maison

How does it work? The clay is porous, so water is released to the roots drop by drop. This very slow process hydrates the plants without drowning them and gives them just the amount of water they need.

Youtube / Mon jardin & ma maison

It's not a widely know fact, but water really does go through clay. It's a very slow process, but also very economical in times of drought.

Youtube / Mon jardin & ma maison

With this technique you use up to four times less water than a classic watering system and can even revive dying plants. This palm tree is a great example of a plant that André was able to save using the Oya watering system. Impressive!

Youtube / Mon jardin & ma maison

To keep your garden looking beautiful and to water your plants when you're away, you can buy Oyas online here.

You can see how it all works in this video (in French):

It just goes to show that sometimes the old-fashioned way is the best way! Oyas can keep a whole garden healthy and help the plants to survive a heatwave without sending your water bill through the roof. And from an environmental perspective, conserving fresh water is always a good idea. It's a win-win situation... happy gardening!

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