How to keep houseplants alive while on vacation

Vacation is a great time to relax and take a break from everyday worries. However, if you have indoor plants, you should make sure that they do not dry out during your absence.

Without regular watering, your home garden can suffer significantly. That's why Southern Living has shared tips to help plants cope for a while without you.

Unfortunately, it's not always possible to ask relatives or friends to take care of your houseplants while you're away.

Of course, if you're going to be gone for a few days, you don't have to worry about the well-being of your potted plants. However, if you leave them alone for more than a week, there is a risk that they will die.

Automatic watering

To help plants survive a prolonged absence of regular watering, you can use cotton wick. Just put it in a pot and dip the other end into a container of water.

You can also use a piece of natural cotton cloth. It will gradually soak up the moisture and transfer it from the water tank to the pot to the plant.

Soak the plants before you leave

Before you go on vacation, water your houseplants abundantly. You can also put them in a bathtub or bowl with a little water and leave them there for about 30 minutes to soak up the moisture. Then let the excess liquid drain away to prevent root rot.

Lighting

Each plant has its own lighting requirements. Some flowers grow better in partial shade, and some in the sun. However, if you know that you won't be able to water them for a long time, then move the pots to the shade. This will slow down their development, so they will need less moisture.

Place plants next to each other

If you have several houseplants, place them next to each other before you leave. This will help maintain humidity around each individual plant and reduce their need for water.

You can also store your flowers in the bathroom. Moisture evaporates worse there, and poor lighting slows down growth. However, do not leave the plants in complete darkness, as these are too extreme conditions.

Additives to the soil

Adding certain substances to the soil will help it retain moisture better. For example, potting soil with a lot of peat or compost retains water better than regular soil.

You can also add an agricultural hydrogel to the soil, which accumulates moisture and then gradually saturates the soil with it.

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