Nothing puts a damper on a trip to the beach or a getaway to a cabin in the woods like coming home to discover that your favorite plants didn’t survive your time away. You don’t want to have to replace your African violets or orchids every time you decide to take a vacation, and fortunately, you don’t have to. With some simple preparations, your plants can easily weather a short absence.
Here’s how to prep your plants for vacation:
Plants in full sunlight dry out more quickly, so you’ll want to move your plants to someplace that is well-lit but not in direct sun (if you have outdoor container plants, such as on a balcony or deck, move them out of the direct sun as well). This will help extend the time they can go between waterings.
Dry air can also suck moisture from your flowers, so keep them out of drafts from air conditioning or heating vents. If the air in your home tends to be on the dry side in general, there are a couple of tricks you can try to increase the humidity around your plants. One is to put your plant atop a tray of pebbles filled with water—as the water evaporates, it puts moisture into the air, keeping your plant humidified without its roots sitting in water.
Another trick is to put a plastic bag over the plant to trap moisture, with wooden skewers to keep it propped away from the leaves and blossoms. Take the bag off as soon as you get back.
Plants dry out more quickly at high temperatures and suffer when it gets too cold, so don’t turn your air conditioning or heating off completely while you’re away. Keeping the indoor temperature relatively close to what they’re used to while you’re home will keep your flowers healthier.
Right before you leave town, give your plants a healthy drink, making sure their soil is completely moist. Depending on the type of plant and the length of time you plan to be gone, this may be enough.
For thirstier plants, you might want to try a DIY watering solution like running a nylon cord from a nearby reservoir of water into the plant’s soil to wick water into the plant. While some people like to put an inch or two of water into their bathtub and set their plants in that to absorb moisture from below, that runs the risk of rotting your plants’ roots.
These techniques will keep your plants going for about a week. If you plan on being gone longer than that, you should enlist a friend or family member, or hire a plant sitter to water your plants periodically while you’re away.
At Rachel Cho Floral Design, we believe that the beauty and joy flowers bring make them a valuable addition to every environment. We love sharing our expertise with our clients and making their floral visions come to life. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
