Anyone here ever make Terracotta vessels?

[BACKCOUNTRY]

Hello! I'm looking for folks who have worked with making Terracotta vessels(pots, jars, etc).

I'm a outdoor grower who lives in a region with a very dry summer climate, I'm always looking for new ways to water my crops. One way I have encountered involves using Terracotta jars that you bury in the soil near your plants, the jars are connected via hose to a reservoir. As the soil dries around the jars, they sweat moisture to rehydrate the soil, a very simple, and efficient system.

The problem is that the only commercially available versions aren't available in North America, they have to be shipped from Australia. Once they are available here, I bet the cost won't be too bad, but being a DIYer, I'd like to see if I could make them myself.

I've tried looking for Terracotta jars, but can't find them for a reasonable price(they are way marked up for their decorating benefits). I've tried adapting Terracotta flower pots, but getting them all sealed is almost impossible.


My question here: Would it be possible to make my own Terracotta jars at home? I know this is a very old art, is it as simple as I'd like to think? I can't find much good info online, as far as I know you need a certain quality of clay to make it from, and a Kiln to fire it.

Could it be possible to collect local clay to make it? I have many deposits of clean clay nearby. Would it be possible for me to make my own crude Kiln? Or would it be possible to use my kitchen oven?

Any input ICmag? I know there are lots of artist types out there...............

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

give this one bump before I give up

 

[killa-bud]

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4964097_terra-cotta-clay-pots-home.html

you need a kiln and stuff

i have harden clay in my oven before,seemed to have worked,although i think its alot more brittle then if you did it in a real kiln

 

[Blind Joe Death]

Although I have no real experience in this subject I do know that it is possible to harden clay without a kiln

http://www.ehow.com/how_4885340_fire-pottery-kiln.html

just think about all of the cultures who have been making pottery for thousands of years before kilns were invented

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I kind of imagined giving it a try and using the inside of my wood stove this winter as a kiln,

 

[mean mr.mustard]

Buy a bunch of chia heads..

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

They are terracotta huh? I know you fill them with water, what does the fill port look like? Anyone own one? Maybe drop me some pics?

Thanks Mr.Mustard, this is one of the best new ideas on this I have heard in a while.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

Find a 'poor' pot thrower. They're made from the same clay as the 'Mexican Paver' unglazed tiles.

Pretty simple to fabricate if one has the talent to 'throw pots' as the term goes. One firing is all that is required as there are no glazes used in these types of products.

HTH

CC

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

After surfing the net a bit, I see most Chia pets have a nice round hole for filling that I could probably adapt to take a hose.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I still think i might try my hand at some crude earthenware this winter, but the Chia pets also look promising. Thanks guys!

 

[journeyquest]

Cha Cha cha Chia. I saw some of your old posts and wonder about those timers . Did you give up on that idea? Im growing indoors but i designed an outdoor system that may work good. I used others ideas so...? The pump and res can be had at harbor frieght cheap. Maybe an alarm battery also. While the res empties the overflow fills. When the overflow tanks are full the soil wicks from there until you can tend your garden and pump back up to the res. Not much hauling of water.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I've moved away from systems that require pumps, timers, or any other "machinery", in favor of systems that water through more reliable passive methods.

 

[journeyquest]

How do you haul water? How long can you go w/ out tending your garden? The only places i could grow outdoors would be a major hassle to tend. I live in a very large city east of Los Angeles. I would have to drive many miles and walk quite a distance also and chance getting caught in the forest so i scrapped the idea and grow small indoors. Maybe some day i can have a greenhouse if i move to a better location. Thanks for your ideas and best of luck.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

How do you haul water? How long can you go w/ out tending your garden? ...........

On my back mostly, right now I tend my plots once or twice a week, next year it will be once every 3-5 weeks.

 

[TychoMonolyth]

Old thread but it's planting time so....

Nice Old Pot Technology.
This is the idea.

https://www.permaculture.co.uk/readers-solutions/clay-pot-irrigation-simple-adaptation-ancient-technique

Looking around I found people using a hot glue gun to weld two pots together. Should work. The Permaculture crowd is all over this.
https://goo.gl/ebHHE4

 

[Stickybred420]

ahh yess!! you wanna create a blumat system!!! excellent idea!!



Tropf Blumat passive irrigation;


https://www.blumat.com/en/set-up-i.html

 

[redlaser]

To fire your own pots at home you need to hit 950-1,050 degrees for earthenware or bisque firing temps. This will have the porous qualities needed.

Probably would have no problem hitting that temp in a fire type kiln, just have to maintain it up to 6-8 hours. Less time may also work.

I don’t have a lot of experience with fire kilns, mostly electric. Still have a large one, may give this idea a try

 

[TychoMonolyth]

I wouldn't fire anything. I'd glue/weld two clay flower pots together. That works.

 

[TychoMonolyth]

ahh yess!! you wanna create a blumat system!!! excellent idea!!



Tropf Blumat passive irrigation;


https://www.blumat.com/en/set-up-i.html

I love Blumat. Never tried it but it makes sense.

 

[Lost in a SOG]

I wouldn't fire anything. I'd glue/weld two clay flower pots together. That works.

what and fill in one hole on one of them?