You should water your plants when you are on vacation.
Although vacations are good for your health, they can be tough on your plants.There are a number of ways to ensure that your plants thrive while you are away.You can arrange for both small potted plants and large plants to be watered with a little planning.It's easy to find a reliable plant sitter or make your own self-watering systems for your plants.
Step 1: The month before your trip is a good time to feed your plants.
Before you leave, make sure your plants are well fed.When you go on a trip, you want them to be healthy and robust.Plants can be found at your local gardening supply store.You can use a liquid and a granularfertilizer for your garden.Compost and manure can be used to fertilize your plants.
Step 2: Your plants should be trimmed one week before you leave.
Plants that are trimmed will use less water.Remove dead, dying, or diseased parts of the plant first.If you prefer, trim the plant to a certain shape after cutting out older growth.You should do this about a week before you leave.Only the well-established plants should be trimmed.
Step 3: Adding mulch will help your plants retain water.
Purchase mulch online or in a store.mulch around the plants to help them retain more water while you are goneThis technique can be used with another watering method.If you leave the mulch in your garden untouched for more than a couple of weeks, it will rot.When you are only on vacation, adding mulch in this way is a temporary measure.shredding leaves, twigs, and other organic matter will make your own mulch.You should mulch your potted plants as well.Add layers of moss to the pot.A moist rag is wrapped around the base of the plant.
Step 4: Plant sitters can help ensure your plants thrive.
If you want to be certain that your plants will survive your vacation unscathed, you can hire a professional plant sitter.You can find a friend or neighbor with plants.Offer to water their plants when they are on vacation.A neighbor who doesn't have plant experience can help water your plants.At least a week before you leave, give them a full tour of the garden and show them what is going on.It's possible to group plants with similar watering needs together.Before you leave, make sure your plant sitter knows how to refer to your instructions while you are gone.Leave specific watering instructions such as, "Give this plant 2 cup (120 ml) of water every Wednesday."
Step 5: If you will be gone for a while, move portable plants to a cool place.
If you will only be gone a few days or a week, move your plants to a shady area, such as a deck or garage.Place the pans under the plants.Unless there is a heat wave, they should be fine.Double-potting the plants will insulate them even more.Place each pot in a larger pot and fill the space between them with soil or mulch.
Step 6: A mini-greenhouse can be used to water a small group of plants.
Make your own terrarium or buy a ready-to-use one.If you want to do this, place a clear plastic bag in a cool area.There is a moist towel on the bottom of the bag.You should put as many potted plants inside as you can fit.Pull the sides of the bags over the plants.Take some air and put it in the bag.Wrap the bag with a rubber band.Because the plants will release water and the excess will trickle back down to the roots, your plants can live happily in a greenhouse for months.If you put your mini-greenhouse out in the sun, it will heat up your plants too much and could kill them.
Step 7: A plastic bottle is used for a short-term self-watering system.
The bottom of the bottle needs to be cut off.The lid needs to be removed.There is a rubber band around the opening.Next to your plant, place the neck of the bottle into the soil.Before you leave, fill the bottle with water and top it up.While you are away, the plant will take water from the bottle.Depending on how much water the plant consumes, you can use this method for up to a week.Small plastic bottles or cough syrup bottles can be used for smaller pots.
Step 8: It is possible to use watering bulbs for a decorative solution.
A small watering system made from glass or plastic that sticks into the soil next to your plant is called a watering bulb.When the soil is dry, the water flows down from the bulb.You can use them as permanent decoration in your garden because they come in lots of different colors and shapes.At your local gardening store, you can find watering bulbs.For up to 2 weeks, they can provide water to small plants.Before you put the watering bulb in the soil, make sure to secure the tip with a small rubber band.
Step 9: A bathtub is a simple and effective solution.
Place pots with holes in the bottom in a shallow container filled with water.If you want to move your plants into your bathtub, you can use a large basin or container.The container should be in a dry place away from the sun.There are insects that can be attracted to standing water.If you will be gone for more than a week, spray the container with a plant-friendly mold and bug deterrent.You can make your own by mixing 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup of water and 3 drops of dish soap.Before you add plants, spray the container with the mixture.
Step 10: A simple solution is to put your sprinkler on timer.
If you have a sprinkler system in your yard, buy a timer and set it to water your plants on a fixed schedule while you are away.If you want to find the right schedule, you need to know how much water you give each area.Put small cans in different parts of your garden and run the sprinklers for 10 minutes.Measure how much water was collected.Depending on the needs of your plants, the individual sprinkler heads can be programmed.If you don't have a rain sensor in your sprinkler system, a friend or neighbor may be able to turn it off.When it rains, the sprinkler will run and overwater your plants.
Step 11: The system can serve several plants at the same time.
A container with absorbent material and a thick yarn, natural fiber rope, or strips of a cotton T-shirt is needed.Make sure your material reaches the bottom of the container by placing one end of it in the water.Put the other end into the plant's soil.The water will travel up the material when the soil is dry.Large bottles, bowls, or pails are good for containers.Every plant should have 1 wick.The same container of water can be used for several plants.Before you leave, make sure your system is working.When the wicks don't work well, you have to switch them out for new ones.If you want to test the system before you leave, put it together.Try positioning the container of water higher than the plant and use a shorter wick if you are having trouble getting the water to flow.When the soil dries out completely between waterings, cacti and Succulent grow best.It is not recommended to water these plants.
Step 12: Invest in a professional system with self- watering pots.
There is a system inside the pot.When the soil becomes dry, fill the bottom of the pot with water and the wick inside will provide water to the plant.It's a good idea to check out the self-watering pots a month before your trip.You can find self-watering pots at your local gardening store or online.Some pots have an indicator that shows how much water is left in the pot so you know when to refill it.Plants that need to dry out between waterings are not a good idea to use self watering containers.
Step 13: Installation of an automatic irrigation system for large outdoor gardens.
It is possible to install an automatic drip irrigation system if you have an extensive outdoor garden.A tube system is used to supply water.It is easy to install and use an automated timer to water your plants.It is possible to make it fit your garden's layout or individual plant needs.When you leave for vacation, use a rain gauge with your irrigation system.If it rains, make sure your irrigation system doesn't overwater your plants.