By Jean Nick, Rodale's Organic Life
So you're taking off on a big trip? Good for you. Studies have shown that vacations are good for your health. (We hope you're staying at one of these 10 organic farms that double as family-friendly bed and breakfasts.) But now you have to figure out what to do about watering your beloved plants. The good news is that it's perfectly fine to leave plants on their own while you're away. It just takes a little planning and forethought.
[post_ads]Well-watered houseplants will last for days, even a week, on their own. If you're heading out for a short time, give them a final drink just before you leave and move them out of sunny windows or hot rooms. Outdoor potted plants will dry out faster, so give them a soaking before moving them into a cool garage or laundry room to slow down their water use.
For longer vacations (more than a few days), however, you'll want to do more. Here's what we recommend:
(Whether you're starting your first garden or switching to organic, Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening has all the answers and advice you need—get your copy today!)
So you're taking off on a big trip? Good for you. Studies have shown that vacations are good for your health. (We hope you're staying at one of these 10 organic farms that double as family-friendly bed and breakfasts.) But now you have to figure out what to do about watering your beloved plants. The good news is that it's perfectly fine to leave plants on their own while you're away. It just takes a little planning and forethought.
[post_ads]Well-watered houseplants will last for days, even a week, on their own. If you're heading out for a short time, give them a final drink just before you leave and move them out of sunny windows or hot rooms. Outdoor potted plants will dry out faster, so give them a soaking before moving them into a cool garage or laundry room to slow down their water use.
For longer vacations (more than a few days), however, you'll want to do more. Here's what we recommend:
(Whether you're starting your first garden or switching to organic, Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening has all the answers and advice you need—get your copy today!)
Find An Educated Neighbor
If you have a plant-savvy friend who can come over a couple times a week while you are away, in exchange for your doing the same in return, that's ideal. Even a careful non-plant-savvy person will work in a pinch if you do a little pre-travel planning. For a few weeks before you leave, keep track of how much water each plant tends to need and how often, and then leave specific instructions ("give this plant ½ cup of water every weekend"). Help your friend out by grouping plants with similar watering needs together on a waterproof floor and out of direct sun. Remember, your house may be warmer while you are away in the summer, so adjust care instructions to account for faster water use.Bag 'Em
[post_ads]If you have a manageable number of plants, you can make a water-recycling terrarium out of a large clear plastic bag that will keep them happy for months. Put the open bag on a waterproof floor in a room that will stay at a moderate temperature (cool in summer, warm in winter) and out of direct sun. To avoid tearing the bag, carefully spread a moist towel along the bottom, and arrange as many well-watered potted plants on the towel as will fit. Pull up the sides of the bag over the plant(s), blowing in air to puff out the bag, and twist it shut on top (you can seal it with a twist tie or a rubber band). For an extra-airtight seal, fold the twisted portion in half, and wrap it with another rubber band.The plants inside will release water from their leaves, and the excess will drip back down onto the leaves and potting soil, where it will be available to the roots again. I used the same plastic bag for three years to get the plants in my college dorm through school-year holidays, and they were still growing when I graduated. You can do the same for plants in outdoor containers. Just remember, whether your plants are indoors or outdoors, keep them out of direct sunlight, or your terrarium bag will turn into a solar cooker.
Wick-ed Easy Alternative
If you have large and unmovable plants, prefer to avoid plastic bags, or just have too many to move, you can set up an easy wicking system that works indoors or out. You need some sort of absorbent wicking material—thick yarn, scraps of old natural-fiber rope, or strips of a cotton T-shirt—and containers (like bottles, bowls, or pails) to hold water. Note: Arrange a test pot to make sure your wick works well.
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Set a container of water next to the plant; a single container can serve multiple pots if it's large enough. Place one end of the wick into the water, making sure it reaches the bottom of the container so your plant won't be left high and dry as it drinks, and poke the other end about three inches deep into the plant's moist soil. As the soil dries out, water will travel up the wick to replenish the moisture. If you have a little more time to prepare, you can make these DIY self-watering pots.)
