Are you planning on being away from home for a few days? What will happen with your indoor and outdoor plants? To make sure they don’t shrivel away while you’re on vacation, it’s best to plan ahead!
1— Hang a Watering Bottle
This method requires little equipment and even less technical skill: an empty water, juice or soft drink bottle and a stake (a wooden stick, for example). Fill the bottle with water and hang it above the plant with the stake near the main stem. Make a small hole in the bottom of the bottle so that water can drip, very slowly, onto the soil. The larger the bottle, the longer you can go without worrying.
2— Make Your Own Watering Globe
An empty bottle can also be used to make your own DIY watering globe. Fill the bottle with water and tightly screw on the cap. Then, pierce two tiny holes into the cap with a needle (the two holes must be very small). Heat the tip of the needle with a flame (lighter) to make piercing the cap easier. Turn the bottle upside down and push it into the soil a few centimetres down. It should be able to stay upright on its own. Drill more holes in several places in the bottom of the bottle so that air can flow in and water flow out through the cap (into the earth). Depending on the volume of water the bottle can hold, the plant can be left on its own between two and eight days.
3— Set Up a Slow Drip Irrigation System
In nurseries and some big-box stores, you can find inexpensive watering systems for your garden, flower beds or indoor plants. Several models are available to suit your needs (even if you only have a small number of plants). They are easy to install and a great environmentally friendly water-saving option. And most importantly, you won’t have to worry about your plants wilting or drying up during your extended absence!
4— Provide Them With in Their Own Reservoir
Here’s another tip plant owners can apply to make their lives easier: self-watering containers. They have built-in reservoirs that slowly release water day-by-day, ensuring the plant does not die of thirst. The problem is that if you have a lot of plants, you have to buy a lot of pots! The advantage: they are very decorative!
5— Create a Water Wicking Drip System
Wool is a fibre that absorbs liquids slowly, making it an excellent wicking material. To use the method of watering your plants, fill a large container, such as a bucket, with water and plunge the ends of one or more lengths of yarn into it. Lay the other end(s) over the surface of your containers’ soil. The water will make its way from the bucket to the plant. Small plants require only one thread of yarn, while larger, and therefore thirstier, potted plantings will require more.
6— Protect Your Plants from the Sun
It is true that plants need sunlight to thrive, but it is best to move them to a shaded area when water is scarce or when you are going on vacation. Keep indoor plants away from the windows or close the curtains. You can also erect a temporary wall to protect them from the sun’s rays (using large pieces of cardboard, for example). For outdoor plants, the wind can also be an (occasional) enemy as it will cause the leaves to dry out even faster. Putting up makeshift screens during your absence will help prevent this type of damage.
Another tip is to ask for help. For your outdoor plants, nothing is better than having a neighbour look after them. In some cases, they won’t even need to cross the boundaries of their own property since the spray from their hose may well be strong enough to reach your precious plantings. You can also leave a key with a loved one who has agreed to come over and water your houseplants.
These tips may save your precious plants and your peace of mind while you get some rest and relaxation. Enjoy your vacation!