How to Keep Your Houseplants Healthy While You're Away on Vacation
Do you have a lot of indoor plants and worry about how to care for them while you're on vacation? The best option is to ask family or friends to drop by and look after your plants. But it's not always possible to get help from someone.
Many indoor plants can tolerate being left unattended for about a week, but it's a good idea to check a few factors like sunlight, watering, and humidity before you leave for your trip. In particular, it's important to water your plants thoroughly before you depart.
Today, we'll share some plant care tips for vacationers, recommended by horticultural experts in the Southern region, to help ensure your plants stay healthy while you're away from home.
How long can you leave your home for?
The length of your vacation greatly impacts how well your plants can cope without anyone checking on them or providing adequate water.
Justin Hancock, a horticultural expert at Costa Farms, explains, "Most plants are fine for about a week, but if they don't get water for two weeks, some plants might start to decline."
The watering frequency can also vary depending on the type of plant, the characteristics of the potting mix, and whether it's a new or established plant.
According to Hancock, the difference between one and two weeks depends on various conditions.
Different types of plants have different water needs, and potting mixes also vary in how long they retain moisture. Additionally, plants with well-developed root systems absorb water from the pot more quickly.
The surrounding environment is also crucial. The higher the temperature and stronger the light, the more water your plants will need.
For example, if you have two peace lilies, their condition can vary depending on their location. A peace lily in a relatively dim room with curtains drawn might be fine, but one in a much brighter room during the same period could use water more quickly and experience stress.
Water your plants thoroughly before you leave
Before you leave home, it's a good idea to water your indoor plants thoroughly.
Hancock explains, "One simple method is to place your plants in a sink or bucket and fill it with a few centimeters of water."
Allow the plants to soak up enough moisture for about 30 minutes, then drain any excess water that has accumulated at the bottom of the pot.
However, more water isn't always better. While you should water your plants thoroughly, you should not leave them sitting in standing water.
Hancock explains, "If roots remain submerged in water for more than a few hours, the likelihood of root rot increases."
Be careful not to suffocate the roots with excessive water. Most plants prefer slightly dry soil over waterlogged conditions.
Generally, overwatering can cause more damage to plants than a little dryness.
Adjust the amount of light
Each plant has preferred light conditions, whether it's direct sunlight or indirect light.
Adjusting the amount of light your plants receive during the day while you're away can help reduce their growth rate and water consumption.
Hancock explains that moving plants to a slightly less sunny spot can be helpful because light promotes plant growth, and more active growth leads to increased water usage.
That said, you shouldn't place your plants in extreme environments. It's best to avoid both too much and too little light.
Hancock says, "It's not good to put plants in complete darkness. However, simply moving them a little further from the window can be beneficial."
If you anticipate being unable to water as frequently as usual, adjusting the brightness of your plant grow lights is another option.
Amanda Gillahad and Mark Waldroop, horticultural experts at Biltmore Estate Conservatory in North Carolina, explain, "Even plants that normally need watering every day or two during the growing season can tolerate missing one watering if they are moved slightly away from strong direct sunlight."
Avoid moving plants right before your vacation
Moving your plants right before you leave for vacation may not be a good idea. Sudden changes in environment can affect plant growth.
Gillahad and Waldroop advise, "Generally, it's best to leave plants in the location where they are currently thriving and growing best."
However, if you have multiple indoor plants, you might consider gathering them in one spot for easier management and to maintain humidity.
Gather your plants together
Do you have several plants in your living room?
Grouping plants close together can help maintain humidity around them.
Gillahad and Waldroop explain, "If you can't water as often as usual, it's a good idea to gather your plants together in a spot with less direct sunlight for a few days. This helps to increase the humidity around each plant and reduce the amount of water they need."
Additionally, placing plants together on a pebble tray filled with water can help increase ambient humidity.
Hancock also recommends grouping plants together and even used his bathroom when he was away from home.
"When I was away for a while and couldn't find anyone to check on my plants, I would group them together in the bathtub. Grouping plants together increases the surrounding humidity, reducing water evaporation, and in the less-lit bathroom, their growth rate also slows down."
Consider using soil amendments
Adding amendments to your soil can not only replenish nutrients for your plants but also help the soil retain moisture for longer.
Gillahad and Waldroop explain, "Potting mixes that are high in peat moss or compost help retain water for longer."
Another method is to use water-retaining polymers in the soil.
Gillahad and Waldroop explain, "You can also mix hydrogel products into the soil, which store water and then release it when the soil dries out."
This is especially suitable for plants that prefer consistent moisture, such as African violets and abutilons.
Utilize automatic watering systems
If you want your plants to receive water for an extended period, try using watering wicks.
Gillahad and Waldroop explain, "Watering wicks are a great way to extend the time between waterings."
You can buy various products on the market or make them yourself.
Simply place one end of a cotton string or wick into a container of water and the other end into the soil of the pot.
Hancock explains, "If you need to be away for a long time, connecting a water reservoir to a cotton wick to water your plants can be very effective. The larger the water reservoir, the longer your plants can survive without water."
When should you ask someone else to water your plants?
If you're only going away for a long weekend or about a week, you generally don't need to worry too much about your indoor plants.
While many plants are typically watered once a week, if you have plants that require special care, the watering and care methods might differ.
If you'll be away for more than a week, it's a good idea to make arrangements for plant care in advance.
Hancock advises, "If you're going to be away for more than a week, you should make separate arrangements to keep your plants healthy, such as using watering wicks, reducing light exposure, or asking someone to check on them."
Gillahad and Waldroop also advise, "If you plan to be away for two weeks, it's best to ask a friend to come and water your plants."
For added security, Hancock recommends asking someone to check on your plants whenever you're away, regardless of the length of your vacation.
Conclusion
You don't need to worry about your beloved houseplants just because you're going on vacation.
Before you leave, check the condition of your plants, water them thoroughly, and adjust the light and humidity appropriately. Grouping multiple plants together or using automatic watering methods like wicks are also good strategies.
Especially if you plan to be away for an extended period, it's important to prepare care methods that suit your plant types and growing environment in advance.
With just a little preparation, your plants can stay healthy while you travel and continue to thrive beautifully upon your return.
With Green Forest, you can ensure your precious houseplants always grow healthy and beautiful.