How can I keep my house plants watered while out of town for 3 weeks?

Question

I am going to Spain for three weeks. I have about 20 plants (large and small) and am exploring my options, here. I've tried a cheap version of those glass globes, but noticed the holes get clogged with soil and they don't work so well. I've also heard of placing a big pot of water on the floor and running a cotton string to each of my plants. Any input on these or other methods? Thanks!

Answer 1

Poke a hole in the bottom of the pot and stick a string through it.  Then fill a plastic container (with the lid partially cut) up with water.  Place the pot on to of the container with the string dipping into the water.  Capillary Action will draw the water up and keep your plants watered.

Answer 2

You can put a few in the bath tub with shallow water to feed from the bottom.  Soak bark in water, before leaving water once more then layer dirt with bark so water in soil will stay moist.  Just check to make sure bark has no bugs, put a piece of potato near bark the bugs will be drawn to it and are easily seen to treat. This can be done in plant soil also to detect bugs.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Larger Plants that would not dry out more than once during your absence should be watered thoroughly just before you leave.

Plants which normally require watering every few days can be moved away from sunny windows and into bright but indirect light.  This will slow down the plant’s use of water.  Try this method before you leave to get an indication of just how far it will stretch the plant’s drying-out time.

Those plants which need to be watered frequently can be enclosed (pot and all) in clear plastic bags.  Punch a few holes in the bag to provide a small amount of circulation.  It is essential to move these plants away from sunny locations and into bright INDIRECT light.  This will avoid heating up the inside of the plastic bags and “frying” the plants.

If your bathroom is fairly bright, you can use the “bathtub method.” Place your plants on bricks in the tub, fill the tub with an inch or two of water (not enough to reach the top of the bricks), set your plants on the bricks, and cover the bathtub with clear plastic.

Consider asking a friend to plant-sit.  But: Do not ask a friend who doesn’t have plants of his/her own; the lack of experience could prove fatal to your plants.  Choose only one person to look after your plants, and leave complete instructions with that person.  If possible, move inaccessible plants into easy to reach locations, and if you have plants scattered throughout the house, make carefully complied list of every plant and its location. Special collections (bonsai, orchids…) should be given to the care of a fellow collector, if at all possible.

As a last resort (in summer only!), larger house plants can be placed outside (pot and all) in the ground on the north side of your house, and left in the care of Mother Nature.

I used the bathtub method, more than once It worked fine. Iost no plants.

Lucky, Hope you have a good trip:)

Answer 4

put those that will fit in bathtub, water until it comes out of the bottom of planter, large plants can be watered about 15 minutes before you leave, then check - soak up any standing water in the dish underneath -

Answer 5

ask ur neighbor to do it while ur away