How to water your plants when you are away

Shower your plants

Once the soil is thoroughly soaked, I let the pots drain out while I wipe down the leaves and then place the plants back onto their saucers or drip trays. The shower gives them all the water they need for a week or two, so by the time I come back from the beach, they’re still perky and happy.

Generally, plants can survive up to 7 days without water. However, your plants’ type and maturity level may affect how long they can go without water. Full-grown tropical houseplants can survive 2-3 weeks without water, while succulents and cactus can survive up to 3 months.

How to water your plants while you’re away for two weeks or more: drip irrigation and a timer. Best for: containers, vegetables, and some perennial plantings. If you have lots of outdoor containers, you may want to consider using a drip watering system designed for containers and control it with an automatic timer.

Give your plants a bath method

Fill up your sink or bathtub with a few inches of water and lay a towel inside to protect against scratches. Rest your potted plants in the sink and leave them there while you’re gone. The soil will draw water up to the roots, keeping the plant hydrated for up to one week.

You will need a bottle with a screw top (I’m using a wine bottle with a screw top), a hammer and a nail…that’s it! Simply use your nail to make four or five holes in the top of your lid. Then fill your bottle up with water. Next, you are going to want to place the bottle face down in your plant.

Group containers close together to create a humid microclimate that helps conserve water. Applying a layer of bark mulch to the soil surface of containers also helps hold in moisture. Sink smaller pots into the soil to help keep roots cool and conserve moisture. Consider moving plants into self-watering planters.