If you don't have to leave in a hurry, you can take the right measures to supply your plants with water with a few considerations in advance. Frequent travelers can start choosing the right plants when purchasing them. Physical considerations, water baths and lots of clever accessories can ensure that your local plants get enough water while on holiday. Below are helpful tips for the correct water supply without having to seek the help of neighbors and friends.
Fortunately, there are several ways to supply your plants with water, depending on your desire and length of absence. In this way, the water requirements of the plants can be reduced. Water reservoirs can be created so that the plants can draw water as needed. Garden retailers have lots of accessories for this case. Even when you return, you can make amends or even save things if necessary. Last but not least, anyone who likes to travel often can start choosing their plants right away. For example, many succulent plants or palm tree species require very little watering.
Water requirements
The plants' water requirements can be reduced before an absence of several days:
- Plants in full bloom need a lot of water: Unfortunately, the travel time often falls exactly when many plants are in bloom. Therefore, a radical yet effective method would be to simply cut off the flowers of the respective plant before leaving.
- Reduce the risk of evaporation To prevent the water from evaporating so quickly, place some mulch or gravel over the soil in the pots.
- Plants in the blazing sun need a lot of water: That's why it makes sense to move the plants from the sunny window seat a little further into the middle of the room before you travel. If you have a bright and slightly cooler place, the plants' water requirements can be reduced significantly. Automatic shutters would be another option or a gathering place on the north window. Of course, the location must not be too dark, because sufficient light is vital for plants.
Storage water
There are several ways to provide plants with a supply of water while you are away. The aim of these methods is to allow the plants to draw their own water as needed.
Bathtub
In a bright bathroom, you can put all the houseplants in the bathtub. Beforehand, line the tub with a plastic film to protect it and place the plants in it. Now the tub is filled with about 3 cm of water. If done a day before departure, you may be able to add some water on the day of departure itself.
Even better: There are special mats available in stores that can store a lot of water. If you place the clay pots on the watered mat, there is no risk of overwatering the plants. Filling the tub with granules is another method so that the plants don't have to stand directly in the water.
string
To do this, you run a thick string made of natural material from a water container into the plant soil. The plant draws as much water as it needs. Natural wool with a high fat content (e.g. sheep's wool) is not suitable.
Bottle
Watering with a bottle is one of the classics. To do this, fill a 1 or 1.5 liter plastic bottle with water. Small holes are poked into the lid. Now stick the bottle upside down into the potting soil. Holes are also made at the bottom so that the water can flow out. This method is ideal for balcony boxes and larger pots.
Water
For a few days, depending on the plant, it may be enough to water it thoroughly again before leaving so that water remains in the planter. However, this method is really only suitable for a short period of time. The water level should not be higher than 1 cm in the planter.
Precaution
Preparatory measures regarding irrigation can be carried out a few days before departure. These tips are particularly suitable for plants outdoors and when you are away for a few days.
Pouring
In the last few days before the vacation, water the plants particularly thoroughly. The earth can soak up water so well. That should be enough for a few days to two weeks (depending on the plant).
Diving
Another option is to immerse the plant pots in water until no more air bubbles appear. That should also be enough for a few days.
Parenting
The actions mentioned above become even more effective by significantly reducing watering some time beforehand. This encourages the plants to form more and more branched roots. Especially in large containers and outdoors, the plants can get their water from the deeper layers for a long time.
Cleanup
You should clean the plants before going on vacation. This means that dead leaves and flowers are removed. The plants themselves are checked for infestation and diseases. Although this has nothing to do directly with the water supply, dry periods mean additional stress for the plant. A he althy plant will cope better.
Accessories
For irrigation systems when you are away, specialist retailers have a number of accessories to offer, sometimes more and sometimes less practical.
Clay cones
These are cone-shaped tubes that you fill with water and stick into the ground. A hose connects a water container to the cone and provides water replenishment as needed.
Water storage ball
The water storage ball works according to the same system as the clay cone or water bottle. But some of them look so pretty that you can also use them when you're at home. A decorative glass ball sits on a thin tube. The ball is filled with water and inserted into the soil up to the root area. The plants are supplied with water evenly.
Water storage box
A water storage box is a system that can be used well for balconies and terraces. It consists of an outer box that serves as a water reservoir. A suction cone is placed in the inner container with the plant, from which the plants draw the amount of water they need. A water level meter is usually added to this for control purposes. For some this may also be a useful system for those busy times between holidays.
Drip irrigation
Here we have clay cones again that are stuck into the ground. There are several of them. All are connected to an elevated tank by hoses. This system is suitable for terraces and balconies.
Micro drip system
You can buy water pressure reducers that are connected to a faucet. There is a hose with small holes that releases the water drop by drop into the bed or box. Also a solution for outdoor use.
Garden
Cover
Where there is a lot of soil visible in the beds, it can dry out quickly. It is best to cover with grass clippings, mulch or gravel.
Lawn
Stop mowing the lawn before your vacation. If it stands a little longer, it gives itself shade and the moisture doesn't evaporate as quickly. Water thoroughly again shortly before departure.
Pouring
If you are away for up to a week, it will be enough to water all the beds thoroughly again before you leave.
First Aid
If it still happens that a plant is hanging sad and completely wilted in its pot after the holiday, you need to act immediately:
- first immerse the plant pot in water until no more bubbles appear
- prune the plant, a third of the leaf area should be removed
Conclusion
It is said that there are even plants that recover splendidly during the holiday season because they are not watered as often. In any case, there are plenty of measures and aids that can be used to bridge even a longer dry spell.
