How to Take Care of Your Plants While You are Away

by Maria Konou Oct 10, 2022 @ 13:17

Picture this: You are going on vacation, you have spent the last few hours packing, and you have even managed to find a home for the cat. But what about all your beloved flowers and plants? They need frequent watering, almost daily watering during the summer months. Well, what do you do now? Well, the first and most important thing is to keep calm. In this article, we will show you the best ways to solve this situation. They include care before departure, as well as ways to water your plants while you are on that long-deserved vacation. So, without further ado, let’s see the best tips for how to take care of your plants while you are away:

Want to know how to take care of your plants while you are away?

In this article
How to Take Care of Your Plants While You are Away
#Care Before Departure
#Check the Neighbor’s Schedule
#Preventive Measures: Less Light and Heat
#Watering Glass Bulbs
#Plastic or Glass Bottle
#Wool Yarn and a Basin of Water
#Tub of Water
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How to Take Care of Your Plants While You are Away

#Care Before Departure

To start, you need to examine all plants carefully. Remove over-bloomed flowers and dead leaves. These can mold, attract pests and make the plant sick. Also, move the pots from the terrace to a room, preferably facing east or north. If the room is sunny, do not place the pots on the windowsill, as the stronger the light that shines on the plants, the faster the moisture evaporates from the soil. This will temporarily slow down the growth of the flowers, and their leaves may turn yellow, but at least you can be sure that they will not be scorched by the strong sun. In addition, according to experts, a few days of a slight change in the regime will not harm your plants at all. To finish off, water all your plants thoroughly. Don’t fertilize them before you leave, as this will stimulate growth and flowering, and they will need more water than they can get at the moment.

Examine all your plants, clean them, and water them thoroughly before you leave

#Check the Neighbor’s Schedule

If you have a neighbor that you have coffee with on Saturdays, and that you trust – this is your best chance! Ask him or her to keep an eye on your plants while you are gone. Beforehand, write notes and stick them on each plant pot describing what each plant needs and how often. That way, you won’t have to hear from her while you are away on vacation to explain the whole drill once again.

A neighbor that you can trust is the best and safest option

#Preventive Measures: Less Light and Heat

If you can’t trust anyone to water your plants, then make sure that they need less water. So, if there is any damage, it will be minimal. Move your plants to a room that faces north and that is out of the sun for most of the day. Additionally – pull the curtains tight, but not completely. Less light and heat will not evaporate the water in the plants, and consequently, they will not need frequent watering. Before you go, however, be sure to water them thoroughly.

Less light and heat will not evaporate the water in the plants

#Watering Glass Bulbs

(in interesting shapes and colors)

The market is full of interesting suggestions on how to care of your plants while you are away. The most common, and affordable option is the so-called watering glass bulb. They come in different shapes and colors, such as ducks, dogs, cats, and cacti. The principle of operation is very simple – the conical shape of the device helps it to be easily stuck into the soil near the plant stem. Before that, you just fill it with water. Depending on the soil’s moisture content, the plant will take up the amount of water it needs itself. When buying a watering glass bulb, make sure to ask how many days it would last and what size you need.

Drip dispensers are a common and super affordable way to water your plants

#Plastic or Glass Bottle

What to do if you don’t have any special watering equipment? Make your own! If you ask your grandma how she deals with plants when she is away, she will surely tell you about the bottle hack. You can use a plastic water bottle or even better- a glass one! For the plastic one, just cut out the bottom, make 4-5 holes on the cap, and fill it to the top (bottom) with water. Stick the cone-shaped part of it into the soil. The mineral water tube will act in the same way as the watering glass bulbs. Wine bottles are perfect for this because they are more durable, and already in the perfect shape!

This DIY hack is the perfect way to take care of your plants while you are away

#Wool Yarn and a Basin of Water

A more old-school method is the one with the wool thread. Just fill a basin with water (if you doubt it will be enough for all the plants, then fill more containers). Cut as many strands of wool yarn as the plants you want to water. The length of the yarn should be appropriate to the distance from the plant to the watering can, so that it can lie flat on the bottom of the watering can without sticking up in the air. Arrange all the plants you want to ‘water’ around the water basin, and dip one end of the yarn into the potting mix and the other end in the water. When the plant is “thirsty”, it will just take a drink of the water. You can do the same using a small tube!

This method will allow your plant to drink water when it wants

#Tub of Water

This is not the best method according to us, but we still wanted to share it! After all, when you are in a hurry you can just arrange all the pots in your tub, plug the siphon and fill it up with a decent amount of water. The location is suitable as most bathrooms don’t have windows and the water won’t evaporate quickly. This way, your plants will be able to have water at all times. Although, it is worth mentioning, that you need to be extra careful not to cause any overwatering and root rot.

Your bathroom can be the perfect spot for all your plants while you are away

Remember that the alternative watering methods we suggest can be effective for 5 to 7 days. If you are going to be away from your home for longer, it is best to trust a neighbor or a friend to water the plants while you are away. This will ensure that your plants are happy and healthy!

Now you know how to take care of your plants while you are away on a vacation!