Are you going on holiday? Discover how to water the plants while being out

Are you going on holiday but no one is able for watering your plants? These tricks will help you

You have everything ready to go on holiday.

You have booked the hotel, you have printed the tickets, the suitcases are ready… but what about your plants? What are you going to do with them while you're gone?

The ideal would be to have a trusted person water them for you while you are away, but if this is not your case, do not worry.

In this article we are going to give you several ideas to water your plants even if you are not at home for a few days.

Let's go there.

Watering plants away from home: How to keep them hydrated and healthy while on vacation

A very common trick is to water plants abundantly just before going on vacation.

This idea is fine... but be careful:

• if you water it to the point of saturating the soil with water, you can end up damaging the roots (especially in plants that are more sensitive to excess moisture).
• And if you plan to be away for a long time, this trick will not work for you.

To keep your plants well-watered for a few days and find them alive and healthy when you return, try one of the tricks on this list:

1. Capillary irrigation

We start with one of the simplest and cheapest: home capillary irrigation.

All you have to do is take a piece of string (better if it's thick) and insert one end into the substrate, and the other into a bottle or container of water. This way, the water climb up the string and gradually soak into the soil.

If you use a full bottle, with this trick your plants can last quite a while without you watering them.

It is a good option if:

• You have few plants to water (you need at least one bottle for each one).
• The pots are small (with this system, it takes a while for the water to reach the entire substrate, so it is not the best option for pots or plants buried in the ground).

We continue.

2. Plastic bottle

This trick is a classic.

Instead of inserting a string, you stick the bottle directly into the ground. You have two options:

• Bury the entire body of the bottle and leave the nozzle in the air: in this case you have to make small holes in the plastic through which the water will come out. The good thing about this system is that you can refill the bottle without digging it up, but in return you will have to make a deep hole.
• Bury the nozzle in the ground: with this method the water will run out a little faster, but if you are going to be away for a week or two it will not be a problem.

Again, if you have a garden with many plants, this option may not be the most suitable.

3. Irrigation bulbs

A more “professional” version of the previous method.

Irrigation bulbs consist of a glass container (some are round, but others are shaped like animals or similar) that is filled with water. An elongated leg sticks out of the container and sticks into the ground, and has a hole through which the water comes out little by little.

The good thing about this system is that it is much more decorative than using a bottle. In addition, as the hole through which the water comes out is finer, it is also better dosed.

Logically, the drawback is that you have to spend money (whereas in the previous case you can use recycled bottles).

4. Wrap the plants in plastic

A very good option for plants that need a lot of environmental humidity, such as tropical ones.

This system consists of putting the plants in a plastic bag (a large bottle is also good) and leaving a container with water at the base. Thus, the sun will cause the water to evaporate, and droplets of condensation will form throughout the interior of the bag.

So to speak, it is as if you made a greenhouse (or a rain forest) in miniature.

5. Ceramic cones

These cones are made of a porous material, which allows water to pass through.

The thin part of the cone is stuck into the potting soil, while a bottle or some other container is placed on the wide part, through which it receives water continuously.

Thus, the water remains accumulated in the cone and little by little it reaches the ground.

6. Hydrogel balls

If you have a lot of plants to water during your vacation, this may be the best option.

Hydrogel balls are made from a material that retains water. When you take them out of the package, you have to put them in a container with water and let them hydrate for half an hour (beware, they grow a lot!).

Then you put them in the substrate, and the water they have absorbed is released little by little.

Also, once they dry, you can rehydrate them and use them again.

7. Self-watering

pots If you don't mind spending a little extra to keep your plants healthy, you can buy self-watering pots.

These pots are deep and have a water tank at the bottom. This way the roots can absorb the water they need.

There are different sizes, from small pots to pots in which you can place several plants at the same time.

An extra tip: choose low-maintenance plants

Something we always recommend is to prioritize the native plants of your area. Because they are adapted to the climate, they are more independent and can survive even in the usual rainfall.

But also, if you usually go on vacation every year, a way to go more relaxed is to choose plants that require low maintenance.

We refer to some as:

• Cacti and succulents.
• The rosemary.
• The lavender.
• The orange blossom of China.
• the gazania.
• Etc.

All these plants are adapted to withstand long periods of drought, so if you have to go away for a couple of weeks of vacation, they will hardly even know about it.

If you want more ideas, here is a complete list of low maintenance plants.

And if you have more doubts about how to take care of your plants or which ones to choose, you already know that you can contact us and we will gladly guide you.