Going Away? Here’s How to Keep Your Plants Happy and Hydrated
• Posted July 17 • 2024.
Those of us who love plants and traveling often face a little problem: how to keep our plants watered while we're away. Whether it's for a vacation or a business trip, it's important for us to know that our plants will be well and can stay hydrated, because otherwise, depending on how long we're away, we run the risk of coming home to find our little plants dried out. There are ways to prevent this, and in this article, we'll look at some quite effective ones.
You might also be interested in:
Automated Irrigation System
Perhaps the best option we have is to install an automated irrigation system that allows us to keep our plants watered and hydrated while we are away. This system is equipped with technology that maintains scheduled watering, adjusted to the needs of each plant, ensuring that each receives the right amount of water—neither too much nor too little. You can program the system to water daily or weekly, depending on the climate of the area and the specific needs of your plants. For example, a precious succulent does not require as much water as a daisy. As a suggestion, you can schedule watering during the cooler hours of the day to minimize evaporation and make better use of the water for each plant. While it may not be the most economical system, it is quite effective and with its investment, you will have the peace of mind that your plants will be watered, happy, and most importantly, alive when you return from your trip.
Watering Globes or Spikes
A simpler but also effective alternative is to use watering globes or spikes. These can be as simple as plastic bottles with a small hole in the cap to let the water out slowly, to those that are ready-made for this purpose. Some even come in the shape of birds or flowers, adding a lovely touch to your plants while keeping them hydrated. The operation of these devices is really simple; they are inserted directly into the soil of the pots and gradually release water directly to the root. These devices are very useful if we are going to be away for a few days, but not so much if the trip lasts more than a week, because depending on their volume, they may run out of water and dry out your plants. These globes and spikes are very efficient in potted plants, where the water can be concentrated, and less useful in direct soil plants. Consider this for your little plants.
Mulch or Mulching
Perhaps not very well known outside the world of plants, this is a traditional agricultural technique that offers great benefits for our plants while we are not around. If we apply a layer of mulch around our little plants, we will help them retain moisture in the soil and thus reduce the need for frequent watering, as well as protect the roots from sudden temperature changes. The mulch we use can be organic, such as tree bark or dry leaves, which, as we know, decomposes over time and enriches the soil with nutrients. Of course, there are inorganic options like black plastic or decorative stones. Remember that mulch is more efficient and useful in garden plants that are planted directly in the ground, because the volume of the soil will allow us a better conservation and use of water.
Water Plates or Bowls
This is a fairly simple yet very effective strategy for potted plants. Place a large plate filled with water under each pot, allowing the plant to absorb the water it needs. Remember that the pot needs to have holes at the bottom for this to work. Another option is to use a deep bowl filled with water, in which the entire pots fit, but the water level does not exceed the soil level in the pot. The principle is the same, the plant will absorb the water to stay hydrated. The plate method is effective for a few days of travel and the bowl for several more days, but always consider your types of plants and the length of your trip to select the best method to keep them watered and happy. And above all, alive when you return. LOL.
Ask for Help
If you can count on a neighbor, friend, or family member for this task, this is undoubtedly the best option, especially if some of the above techniques are not very viable in your case or if you are going to be away for an extended period of time. We know there's no one like you to take care of your little plants, but sometimes it's necessary to ask for help to keep them in good condition until we return to take care of them. You can leave instructions for watering the plants at home and thus ensure they receive the water they need. Additionally, if there's a problem, the person helping you will notice it and notify you immediately, so you can make the necessary decisions. This option, with a touch of human communication, provides peace of mind for many of us who love plants, but also love to take a travel break every now and then.
Extra Tips
Group Your Plants
If you group your plants, you can help them create a more friendly environment for themselves while you're on vacation. This means that by placing them together, especially those that require similar humidity conditions, you will help create a useful microclimate to maintain moisture in them and require less water. This is because plants, when they transpire, release water vapor, which stays in the air longer if they are grouped, benefiting all the plants within the group. Your little green oasis at home will also look nice.
Choose the Right Location
This is an important point but for some reason many people do not consider it necessary when going on a trip. Remember that you will not be near your little plants and will not be able to care for them the way you do when you are at home. So, do not leave them exposed to direct sunlight, especially if they are delicate and especially if it is for a long time. Remember that it is not the same for them to be exposed to the sun while you water them constantly as it is for them to be receiving less water with some of the systems we have mentioned (except the automatic system of course). Plants under constant direct sunlight require more water and can suffer from heat stress. Try to locate them in a partially shaded position, which receives sunlight indirectly, which will help them need less water. If you have plants planted directly in the ground, try to place a fabric mesh over them, they will still receive the sun, but it will keep them under a pleasant shade for them. This applies clearly during prolonged periods of travel.
In conclusion, traveling and not seeing your plants die is possible and is actually relatively simple to achieve. We all know our plants and roughly how much water they can get by with while we are away. Based on this and the climate, we can decide the best way to keep our plants watered while away and have the peace of mind knowing that we will return home and there they will be waiting for us. Those of us who like plants and flowers know that it is not at all pleasant to return from a spectacular vacation and see some of our little ones dry and dead. If there are ways to avoid it, let's use them, don't you think?
To see more amazing pictures and leave a comment, go to the Pinterest board for this article: Click
Tastes of La Paz.