If you are one of the lucky ones who has prepared a vacation trip, we congratulate you, but have you already thought about what you are going to do with your plants? Being away from home for several days or even weeks can be a disaster for our plants since, depending on their species, being so long without watering or care can be fatal, especially in the hot summer months and in the coldest months. of winter.
In this this article by Green Ecologist, we are going to teach you how to water plants on vacation so that you save yourself having to ask someone to take care of them for you.
How to water plants on vacation with a cord
Water plants with wool or cord It is one of the best known and most used tricks for this type of situation and, in addition, it is very easy to prepare. You just need to follow these steps:
- Place a container full of water near the plants you are going to water. It is important that the container is above the pots, so you can place it on a support that keeps it high.
- Take shoelaces or long pieces of string or wool and place the end of each one of them sunk in the water, trying to reach the bottom of the container, and the other sides buried in the substrate of the pots to be watered, near the roots.
- The cord will absorb the humidity, which will be absorbed by the earth at the rate that each plant needs.
- Another option is to use a rubber tube or hose, as seen in the main image in this article.
How to make a drip irrigation to water on holidays
Another option of watering for plants on vacation is the acquaintance drip irrigation. Follow these instructions and you will see that it is very easy to achieve it:
- Take a large plastic bottle or container and poke very small holes in one side. These should be holes the size of the head of a fine needle, so you can use one to poke them.
- Now you just have to bury the bottle next to the plant you want to water, with the holes facing towards it. Leave it full of water and it will soak the earth drop by drop through the holes made.
- If the plant to be watered does not require large amounts of water, you can also limit yourself to placing the perforated container on the ground without burying it, but keep in mind that in this case the drops will simply slide down to the surface soil, and you will need to drill the holes in base.
In this other Green Ecologist article we show you more about How to make a home drip irrigation system.
How to use a bottle to water your plants on vacation
If your plants need a lot of water or resist humidity well and you will not be out for many days, another method is the inverted bottle system for irrigation:
- Choose a bottle with a narrow neck.
- Fill it with water.
- Bury it face down in the pot to be watered, trying to bury enough part so that it remains well nailed.
Keep in mind that using this system implies that the land receives a greater amount of water, so the irrigation will run out sooner and the land will become quite moistened. For this reason, it is not advisable to use the inverted bottle system with plants that are vulnerable to fungal attack due to excess humidity.
How to use gel water for watering on vacation
Another of the techniques for watering plants on vacation that has proven to be very effective is the gelled water or hydrogel for watering plants, either for pots or for floors. It is a compound that includes water and nutrients for plants and can be purchased in an injector tube, pearl or crystal format. Always check the indications on the product packaging when buying it, so you will know well what amount to use in the case of your plants.
As the soil dries up, the hydrogel it releases water and in this way watering it again and facilitating that water reaches the roots of the plants.
Image: Fruit Portal
How to use ceramic cones to water plants
Ceramic cones are another great option if you are going to be on vacation for several days or away from home for other reasons. This material with which they are made is porous and, thanks to this, allows the slow passage from water to land, like a drip. However, there are cones of different materials, depending on the porosity we need for the type of plant we have, depending on whether it usually needs more water or less.
In addition, there are two types of systems: watering cones with hose or watering cones with bottle, as you can see in these images.
Image: viverosprojardin
How to use irrigation bulbs for plants
This is one solution for watering plants on vacation very simple and, at the same time, it can be very decorative. Irrigation bulbs are of blown glass and they have a rounded part, or with a decorative figure, in which the water accumulates and another part that is a long tube that sticks into the ground and is where the water is released little by little, according to the need of the earth. Therefore, they work like bottles or cones, but can be more decorative.
How to use hydroplants or self-watering pots
These pots are one of the most innovative on the market and, thanks to their technology, they will allow you water your plants on vacation without difficulties. They have a water tank and they are releasing this water towards the earth according to the needs of the plants.
Of course, it is not the cheapest option of all those shown, but it is very effective, safe and decorativeSince the pots are modern in design and no extra watering devices, such as bulbs, strings or cones, are visible. Thus, using self-watering pots or hydro-planters for one or a few plants can be a very good choice or for all those you need if you are not worried about the budget.
Caring for plants on vacation
There are other measures that you can take into account to ensure that your plants are as good as possible when you return. Follow these tips for caring for plants on vacation:
- One of the most important is to try to gather all the plants in the same room, in an area where you can protect plants from excessive cold and heat. For this, a dry room is recommended, with the blind half raised so that some light enters, but there is no direct impact. Make sure that there are no strong air currents either, which are very harmful to some species.
- Of course, it is also highly recommended to leave your plants in the most optimal state possible as you go, so remove any traces of dried leaves or stems. You can make even a small sanitation pruning, which will help reduce the water consumption of your plants.
- In addition, a preventive insecticide treatment It could save you scares on the way back. If any of your plants tend to be attacked by a specific pest, take action before it happens, or when you return it could be too late. Most pests can be controlled with organic and ecological remedies, so you may not need to resort to chemicals. In this other post on How to make natural insecticides for plants, you can see options to make at home.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to water your plants on vacation, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
