Watering house plants during vacation
When you go on holiday, it can be very stressful to take care of your plants, you don’t know what they will do without you.
When you are on an extended vacation, you can take your pick from several options available for watering your plants.
It is possible to find a plant sitter who can take care of your plants behind your back. You can help them by giving them special instructions or writing down their needs to take care of your plants.
Plants with the same watering needs can be grouped together and tagged with their watering needs so that the plant sitter will know how to get them watered. Avoid direct sun exposure by keeping your plants away from the sun so they will not burn and soil won’t dry too quickly.
If you are enjoying your vacation, you can also maintain your water by using other methods.
- Wick systems
- Drip systems
- Plant baths
- Capillary mats
- Mini greenhouse
- Self-watering pots
- Smart-home automatic systems
Basically, the capillary method is used to carry the wick system. A container with water at the bottom, an absorbent material, bolts and nuts will be needed. Cotton, fiberglass, and nylon can be used to absorb water for the wick. It doesn’t even have to be a shoelace.
One container for each plant, or just one large container for multiple plants can be used for water storage. The size of the container should be such that the water lasts until you return.
Place the auricular candle into the container at the bottom, reserving water in the bottom. Put the nut into the bottom of each candle. The other end of the wick should be buried in each plant a few inches in the soil. That’s it.
Drip irrigation systems are ideal for maintaining plant hydration during a short vacation. A plastic or glass bottle is all you need.
The soil in small pots contains less water, thus requiring less water. A small plastic bottle can be used by drilling small holes in its cap or at the top of the bottle. Fill water into the bottle and replace the lid.
Do this quickly by inverting the glass bottle in the just-watered soil and diving right in. The bottle’s openings should be filled with soil.
Since larger pots hold more soil, they need more water. Use a glass bottle with a screw top for this purpose. No holes need to be drilled in the bottles.
Place the bottle’s opening on the top of the soil and invert, then you can avoid jamming it.
Ceramic or terracotta bottles can also be used.
Watering your plants with a plant bath will nourish them as well. In the sink or tub, you need to pour water a few inches deep.
Using this method, place the plant in a sink or bathtub with water filled to the top. Make sure the pot has a drainage system to make this work.
Smaller pots would be easier to lift with this system, but larger ones would be more difficult to lift.
Also, make sure you have dapple light coming in, but not too much light, in the bathroom or other space you are going to do this.
Capillary mats are invented with the capillary action in mind. The same method is used to keep the plants moist. They’re readily available at gardening stores or you can make them at home.
Put a thick piece of styrofoam in the tray (1 inch in thickness) and take a tray as big as you need.
Nail the fabric to the foam, and cut any absorbent material (wool, cotton, or felt) so that it hangs around the edges of the tray.
Plants just watered should be placed in the tray and the capillary mat will do the rest.
Mini greenhouses are created by using clear plastic bags to capture plant moisture and potting soil through evapotranspiration. You will need a plastic bag big enough to cover your plant entirely, and sticks to keep it from touching the plant.
Your plant needs to be watered, and then covered with the plastic bag in such a way that the bag does not cling or push against it; some slight contact is acceptable. Before sealing the bag, it is most effective to add a little air to the plastic.
If your plastic covered plant is in direct sunlight, the heat will cook the plant and cause it to die.
Pots that self-water work through capillary action that enables the roots and soil to absorb water and maintain a decent level of moisture in the soil.
In the last few years, these pots have gained popularity due to their easy maintenance and effectiveness. As well, they are made from simple materials available around the house very inexpensively.
In addition, they are easily available in the market in case of an emergency or a need for a trendy looking container.
For those who are fascinated by smart technology products, smart-home automatic systems may be the answer.
Smart home automated systems water plants with varying water needs by just making a single setting for each plant individually by utilizing a single reservoir.
In this way, you should be able to fulfil the water needs of each plant, according to their requirement.
Are self-watering pots good for indoor plants?
The roots of the plant receive consistent moisture from the soil when they are contained in a self-watering pot. The pots are great for plants that need water from time to time, but plants who prefer their roots to dry out might not thrive in these pots.
Indoor plants like their soil dry in between waterings and need water about every seven days or more. Therefore, using these pots might cause the soil to stay soggy consistently.
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