Spotted: The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) estimates that by 2025, two thirds of the global population may face water shortages. It’s essential, then, that we implement solutions that make more efficient use of all our resources and one company doing just that is Wepot. By keeping production local and using regional suppliers, Swiss startup Wepot sustainably produces irrigation pots for home gardeners and commercial growers that can save substantial volumes of water – up to 70 per cent compared with normal watering systems. 

The company provides an updated version of the ancient agricultural practice of irrigating crops with clay pots buried in the ground. The jars are called ollas, and setup is simple. After digging a hole in the ground, the jar is buried up to the depth marking and then filled with water. Plant roots grow towards the pot, and thanks to the natural porosity of the clay, draw out as much water as is needed.  

Wepot produces jars in a range of sizes, making it possible to use the system both indoor and outdoor and for a variety of sizes of gardens. The smallest ollas are used to water houseplants, with the rest of the sizes placed at regular intervals in outdoor plots. Most pots only need to be refilled at most once a week. 

As well as reducing water wastage, using the jars also helps to prevent the growth of mould from standing water and discourages weed growth by keeping water as close to the plant roots as possible. 

More and more innovators are exploring ways to encourage plant growth, without the large water footprint. Springwise has spotted modular nature blocks that bring plants to urban spaces, and a hydroponic system to create green shaded areas.

Written By: Keely Khoury