What To Do with Your Houseplants When Traveling

There are so many things to think about when you are going on an extended trip. Who will take care of your home? Do you have pets that need to be taken care of? What about your houseplants? What should you do to ensure that you will arrive back home to healthy plants?

The first thing to consider is how long you will be away. Are you going away for a long weekend or an extended period? Since we will be away this fall the first thing we will do is lower the thermostat a few degrees before leaving. Houseplants generally thrive better in cooler temperatures.

We will have someone checking our house daily. They will be responsibly for watering my plants once a week. Before we leave I gave all of our plants a good watering. I also moved them all into one room so it will be easy for our caretaker to remember to water them all! The blinds were left open but none of the plants will be in the direct sun. This will keep the plants from drying out faster.

Group your plants. If you place the plants that need more water close together you will make it easier for your caretaker to give each plant just what they require.

If you don’t have a caretaker or a reliable plant sitter you can set up an easy wicking system to keep the plants watered. Set a container of water next to the plant; a single container can serve multiple pots if it’s large enough. Place one end of the wick into the water, making sure it reaches the bottom of the container so your plant won’t be left high and dry as it drinks, and poke the other end about three inches deep into the plant’s moist soil. As the soil dries out, water will travel along the wick to replenish the moisture. I have only read about this method and not tried it myself.

To protect plants in pots that are large, heavy, or too big to move, drill a small hole [approximately 1/8″] into the plastic top of an empty [and clean] liter-size soda bottle. Fill it with water and up-end it securely into the soil of large house plants, propping as necessary, to prevent it from rolling or falling out. Water should drip from the hole, keeping the plant hydrated until you return from your travels. There are also spikes you can get to help water your indoor plants.

Do this several days before you leave to make sure water drips from the bottle. If not, adjust the bottle or enlarge the hole, until water seeps out into the soil of your large potted plants.

Most plants will survive a week or ten days without additional water, if you’ve watered them thoroughly before traveling. If you plan to be away for a longer time you will need to decide whether to enlist outside help or use a method such as the wicking method to help your plants stay watered.

With a little effort and advance travel preparation, it’s possible to protect your houseplants inside your home before you travel. They’ll be waiting for you, healthy and happy when you return!