When you have a house full of plants, it can be difficult to have friends who will reliably look after them while you are away. And what if someone doesn’t come by every day to give your plants the specific care they need? Here are a few hacks to keep your plants happy and healthy while you take your time.
How to water your plants while on vacation
The greatest concern people have when leaving their plants alone is regular watering; and if you have a large family with different plants, they will need to be looked after differently. Fortunately, you can equip different irrigation systems to meet the needs of your plants.
Use a wine bottle to water your plants
For larger plants that need to be watered regularly, Wine bottle option is a good choice. Take an empty twist-off wine bottle, then poke a hole in the metal cap and fill the bottle with water. Screw the (now pierced) cap back on. Turn the wine bottle cap down into your potted plant and position it deep enough so that the bottle stands up by itself. The water will release slowly over time and will feed your plant while you are away.
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Place plants in a bathtub or a children’s pool to store water
If you have several tropical plants and maybe not enough bottles of wine, you can use the bathtub to give your plants the moisture they need. Garden writer Barbara pleasant told House Beautiful The best way to care for multiple houseplants while on vacation is to fill your bathtub with one to five inches of water. Remove all the saucers from the bottom of the plant pots and place each plant in the tub together. The plants soak up the water through the drain hole and drink as needed while you are away. The same process works with a Children’s paddling pool for your outdoor plants.
Group plants by type
Arrange your plants by type before you start your trip. Succulents and cacti should be with other plants that do not need attention in your absence. Pour these before you go and they’re done. Keep that more tropical plants together so that they can feed each other on moisture and warmth.
Here’s how to regulate the airflow of your plants when you’re away
The next concern for your plants is oxygen and airflow. (I’m not someone who leaves my windows open when I know I’ll be gone for a long time.) There are ways to give your plant the moist or dry environment it needs when you’re not keeping the temperature during the day can regulate day.
Build a temporary greenhouse
Put in Plastic container about small plants that love moisture. The plastic container becomes a Mini greenhouseso that the water and moisture cycle can be maintained even when you are away. This also works with a Plastic bag as a small terrarium.
Move the plants away from the windows until you come back
Grouping your plants is the easiest way to control airflow and temperature for your plants while you are away. The tropical plants come into your tub and the succulents dry out at will in a corner. However, you should make sure that all plants are kept away from variables that could instantly change temperature. Keep plants away from ventilation openings, sunny windows, and heaters. Without you being there to move them, these things could dry out your more delicate plants faster than you think.
Adjust the heat or air conditioning before leaving the plants alone
This step can add to your utility bill for the time you’re away, not to mention it isn’t the most environmentally friendly, but your plants will thank you for spending a little extra cash on it when needed Your heating or air conditioning will adjust the temperature while you are away. This could mean you come home with a higher electricity bill, but your plants have a better chance of staying alive when you get home.
