Four Ways to Water Indoor Plants While on Vacation

Going on vacation is exciting, but how do you keep your indoor plants watered while you’re away? Here are four techniques to keep your plants watered while you’re enjoying your holiday.

Planning a vacation is exciting and there’s much to do before you head off for a relaxing holiday. But have you thought about your indoor plants? Unfortunately, many plants can’t go more than a few days without being watered, which can be problematic if you’re planning for a longer vacation.

Obviously, if you have a trusted friend or neighbor who can come and water your plants, then you’re set. But what if this isn’t an option?

Lucky for you, there are several techniques that you can utilize to keep your plants watered while you’re away. Below are four popular options that people use to keep their plants watered. The best option for you will depend on the type of plants you own as well as the duration of your vacation.

1. Place Your Plants In The Bathtub Or Laundry Sink

This method works well if you only plan to be away for a week or so. Here’s what to do:

With this method, the soil will absorb the water through the drainage holes at the bottom of the container. Your plants will then draw up the moisture with their roots when they need it. Of course, you need to ensure that there’s adequate light in your bathroom for your plants to survive and that the pots have drainage holes for the water to be soaked up.

Do not do this for succulents or cacti as they cannot tolerate sitting in water or wet soil for very long.

2. Set Up A Simple Wick System

This option is ideal if you only have a few plants. You can adapt this system for a larger collection of plants by using a larger container, but it does require you to put all your plants in one area.

Here’s how to water your plants with a simple wick system:

For a single plant, find a container around the same size as your plant pot.
Fill the container with water.
Find a suitable wick. This could be a piece of rope, twine, thick yarn, or any fabric that absorbs water. If you only have a very thin cord, you can braid this to make it thicker.
Water your plant thoroughly and let the excess drain away.
Place the water container next to the plant.
Put one end of the wick into the container of water, making sure it goes all the way to the bottom. Bury the other end in the soil of the plant. It should be buried around 2 inches (5 cm) deep into the soil in the pot.

The wick will now constantly replenish the water in the soil. Just make sure that your container is large enough to hold enough water for the duration of your vacation.

If you have many plants, you can use the same system but need a larger water container. You’ll also need a separate wick for each plant that needs watering.

3. Create A Simple Drip System For Each Plant

For this option, you’re going to need several empty soda bottles, one for each plant. Here’s how to create a simple drip system:

Drill a few small holes into the cap of the soda bottle.
Fill the bottle with water and screw the cap back on.
Thoroughly water your plants and let the excess water drain away.
Upend the bottle and bury it into the top inch or so of soil. Make sure that the bottle is secure and will not fall out.

The water will slowly drip out of the holes in the cap and water your plant as it needs it. You can also purchase ceramic or terracotta spikes that you attach to the top of the bottle in place of the cap. These spikes have holes in them that let the water drip out slowly into the potting mix.

Another option is to purchase some glass watering globes from your local garden center. These look a lot more attractive and can be used even when you’re not away.

Remember, though, that these may run out of water if you’re going to be away for an extended time, so it’s best to test them first before you leave. This will let you know exactly how long the water will last for each plant.

4. Make A Capillary Mat

You can purchase capillary mats at your local garden center, or you can make your own with this method. These work with the capillary action that draws water from a reservoir into the mat. Once your plants are placed on the mat, the roots will draw up the moisture through the drainage holes in the pot.

Here’s how to make your own capillary mat:

Find a large tray or plastic tub that will accommodate all your plants.
Cut a piece of Styrofoam around one inch thick to fit the top of the container. Leave around one inch free on both ends of the tray. The Styrofoam should be a little larger than the long edges of the tub so that it’s sitting above the water.
Find a piece of absorbent fabric that will fit over the Styrofoam and hang down into the water on both ends of the tub or tray. An old towel will work well for this.

Fill the tray with water and make sure that the fabric is wet.
Place the fabric over the Styrofoam and make sure both ends are well submerged in the water.
Thoroughly water your plants and let the excess drain away.
Place your plants on top of the fabric. The fabric or towel will act as a wick to water the roots through the container’s drainage holes.

Do not use this method for succulents or cacti as their roots cannot tolerate sitting in water. However, most succulents and cacti should be able to survive a few weeks without being watered. Just give them a drink before you go, and they should be fine.