6 Ways to Water Plants While Away On Vacation: How-To + Tips

Everyone loves going on vacation: discovering a new culture, catching the sun, tasting new cuisine. But how to water your plants while away?

Having plants inside your home is always rewarding. They keep the air fresh, look beautiful, and add a touch of nature to your home. But how do we balance a plant hobby with a passion for travel? 

In this piece, we’ve compiled some of the best tips for how to water plants while away.

Method 1 to Water Your Plants While Away: Water Wick

A clever way to keep your plants watered while away is to build a water wick. Cut a long piece of cotton rope, e.g. from a cotton clothesline, and place one end into a container filled with water and the other deep into the soil – close to the roots of the plant. 

The wick slowly seeps up water from the container and delivers it to your plant, keeping the soil at the right level of moisture.

Method 2: Water Saucer

Before you head to the airport, fill your plant saucers with water for your plants to soak up while you are away. This works best for plants that don’t require special attention or need a lot of water.

If you don’t have plant saucers. they are easy to find at hardware stores or your local nursery. If you have to transfer your plants to new pots with saucers, be sure to plan ahead so that the plants have enough time to get over the shock before you leave them alone for a while.

Method 3: Plastic Bag Greenhouse

Got any clear plastic bags hanging around? You can reuse them to create a long-lasting method for watering your plants while away.

Wrap your plant in a plastic bag away from direct sunlight, propping the bag up at the corners with wooden stakes to prevent the plastic from wrapping around the leaves. 

Water your plant as usual before you go. This mini greenhouse will catch the water as it evaporates and rewater the plant with the water droplets. 

Method 4: Shower Your Plants

Drench your plants in the shower until the water runs out of the drainage holes. This should give your plants a good moisture level for the next couple of weeks so they are not so needy whilst you are away.

Bonus Tip: Keep your plants in a shadier spot to ensure more moisture remains.

Method 5: Self Watering Bulbs (Or Bottle)

To water your plants while you’re away, you can also try using a self-watering bulb or bottle. Fill a bulb or bottle with water and cover the sprout with a coffee filter. Place it quickly deep into the soil away from the roots of the plant. Make sure the pot has a plant saucer underneath to capture any dripping. 

Method 6: Ask A Friend, Flatmate Or Neighbour to Water Your Plants While Away

Last but not least, and possibly the most efficient if possible – ask a friend, flatmate, or neighbor to water your plants while you’re away. You can offer to do something for them in return, like feeding their pets while they are away, or baking them something delicious. 

Read on:

• 7 Signs Of Overwatering Plants & What to Do
• The 12 Best Plants to Naturally Repel Mosquitoes
• Why is My Plant Soil Moldy and How Do I Fix It?

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Tags: DIY Garden Guide Planting