Whether you’re going on vacation or a business trip, the last thing you want to worry about is the health of your indoor plants. After all, you can pack your bags, have kids in the car and even take your pets, but what about the green babies you’ve been protecting from all the hardships? The good news is, with a little preparation, you can rest easy knowing that your plants will be just fine while you’re away. So, if you’re going on vacation and concerned about your plants’ health, follow these simple tips and your plants will not even realise that you are away.
Water Plants Before you Leave
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The most important thing is to make sure your plants are adequately watered before you leave. If you’re gone for more than a week, they might start to wilt and look sad. So, some amount of water will help keep them healthy and looking good. If you can’t water them yourself, ask a friend or neighbour to do it for you. And if that’s not an option, there are plenty of plant watering timers available on the market. You can even DIY a self-watering system with empty bottles or capillary wicks.
Group Together Plants that have Similar Watering Needs
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Of course, you would want to return home to fresh and healthy-looking plants! And the best way to do so is to group together plants that have similar watering needs. This will also help you avoid over or under-watering, which can be fatal for plants. Plants even benefit each other when they are closer together. They attract the shades and sheers and use less water.
Be Mindful of Sunlight
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Another thing to keep in mind while ensuring your plants’ health is the amount of sunlight your plants need. Some plants prefer direct sunlight, while others thrive in shadier conditions. Be sure to take this into account when placing your plants in your absence. Say, if they are under direct access to sunlight, set up an artificial shade using thin white sheets.
Leave a Planter in a Shady Spot
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Take up a shallow tray with small pebbles and fill it up with water beneath the top of the pebbles. Keep the planter above the pebbles without touching the surface of the water. This will maintain humidity and moisture levels & not lead to over-watering or root rot.
Go for Self-Sufficient Plants
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When you’re planning on being away from home for an extended period of time, one of the most important things to consider is the welfare of your plants. Hence, you can be the proud plant parent for self-sufficient or low-maintenance plants. These are plants that don’t need a lot of TLC (tender loving care) in order to stay alive. This way, you can chill knowing they’ll be just fine without you. Cacti and succulents are perfect examples of self-sufficient plants, as are most herbs.
Check for the Temperature Conditions
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Another thing to keep in mind when making sure your plant’s health is the temperature. If it’s going to be really hot or cold, make sure you adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Most of the plants enjoy a moderate climate. Hence, pull them away from the window or the place that receives bright, direct sunlight. Also, don’t forget to fertilize your plants while you’re away! A little bit of fertilizer will help keep them healthy and looking their best.
No matter how dark-coloured is your green thumb, everyone can use some time to relax and unwind. If you want to up your plant parenting game, follow these tips & tricks. Lastly, the aforementioned tips will help you enjoy your vacation knowing that your plants’ health is in good hands. Try them out!
