For gardeners and other green-thumbed people on the go, one of the most common problems is keeping plants alive while you’re away. It can be stressful to leave home for a few days or weeks without knowing what’s happening in your yard.
Still, it can also be physically challenging to tend to every plant daily—especially if you’re traveling heavily. But with a bit of advance planning, there are many ways to water your plants while away from home that isn’t too difficult or time-consuming (or even expensive). Read on to find out the 4 easy solutions-
4 solutions for busy gardeners:
Gardeners are worried about going on vacations because of plants. Still, there are plenty of solutions to water your plants while away. Here I have categorized two solutions in two parts. One is fancy, and the other one is cheap. read and decide which one to follow-
1. Use a hose timer to prep in advance.
With a hose timer, you can keep your plants watered while you’re away. A hose timer lets you set an automatic schedule for how often the sprinklers will turn on and off (usually every week or two, but it depends on where you live). When the water reaches a specific temperature, it turns off automatically until it cools down again.
You can also test your system before vacation by setting up a series of tests at different times and temperatures to ensure everything works properly. This way, if there are any issues, they won’t happen while you’re gone.
Once everything checks out as good to go, reset the timer so that all future settings will be remembered when it’s time again later this summer.”
2. Use apps to control remote watering
Self-watering systems are becoming increasingly popular among gardeners looking to save money on water bills. These devices work by sending out small amounts of water every few minutes via a network of tubes and hoses.
You simply plug it into a power source and connect it to your garden hose with a swivel connector. Once installed, there’s nothing else you need to do - just sit back and relax.
The main drawback of most self-watering systems is that they don’t actually supply enough water to your plants. Most watering systems are designed to deliver a trickle rather than a full flow. This is fine for smaller gardens or those without many large pots, but it won’t provide enough water for larger plants.
To solve this problem, some manufacturers now offer optional kits that include a pump and reservoir tank. When combined with an intelligent irrigation system app, these kits allow you to control the amount of water delivered to each plant precisely.
If you’re interested in setting one up yourself, here are our picks for the best self-water systems on the market today.
3. Rotary sprinklers
The term “rotary sprinkler” refers to a type of irrigation system that uses a rotating nozzle to spray water onto plants. Rotary sprinklers come in different sizes and shapes, including those that rotate clockwise, counterclockwise, or both. They’re often used in gardens, landscapes, and yards.
Watering a large area without drip irrigation or soaker hoses can be done through this system in a pinch if you don’t have time to set them up.
It is recommended that you use either rotary sprinklers or oscillating fan sprinklers.
4. Try self-watering planters
Suppose you’ve ever left your house without watering your potted plant. In that case, you know just how important it is to ensure that your plants receive regular moisture.
If you live somewhere where there isn’t enough rain to go around, or if you simply find yourself unable to tend to your plants regularly, you’ll want to consider investing in self-watering pots.
These clever devices provide a constant supply of water to the soil inside the pot via an internal reservoir. This ensures that your plants remain healthy and happy no matter the weather conditions.
The best part about these pots is that they look great, too. You won’t feel guilty about filling up your living room with a bunch of pretty pots because they’ll blend seamlessly into your decor.
4 cheap solutions to water your plant while you’re away:
1. USE PLASTIC BOTTLES TO CREATE AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM
You might be looking for cheap garden ideas to keep your plants watered; if so, a plastic bottle might just be what you need. Says the team at Greenhouse People. You can easily use a plastic bottle to D.I.Y. your own drip irrigation system.
You’ll notice that the water will trickle once you turn the bottle upside down, but once a vacuum is created inside the bottle, the trickling will stop. With a pin, pierce small holes in the cap of the bottle. Put water in the bottle with water and secure the lid.
Water bottles should be placed with the lid just below the soil surface and staked to prevent them from falling over. You can also distill a liquid fertilizer for plants requiring extra oomph. You won’t need to do anything besides watching the bottle drip-release the water.
To make a further saving, collect rainwater instead of taking it from the tap after you’ve finished watering the plants. This hack can be used all year long, making it perfect for the summer holidays.
Alternatively, you can purchase terracotta, pottery, or plastic nozzles, which will attach to bottles and be placed in the soil. These are readily available in garden centers and online.
2. use the wick or rope hack
This is another cheap yet effective way to water your plant to keep your plants alive while you are away. It works better with wick, but if you can’t find wick, then the rope will work, so don’t worry. Grab a wick\rope and a pot or jar full of water. Cut the wick\rope long enough to reach out to both the plant and the water jar.
Place one side of wick\rope into the water jar. Make sure it goes dip enough to sock the water. Then grab the other side of the wick\rope and place it into the plant’s soil. Make sure to place it into few inches deep so that the wick\rope will sock the water from the jar and transfer it to the plant. This way, your indoor plants can easily serve a week or so.
3. Use a container of water.
Containers are a watering hotspot as many plants growing closely together in a relatively small area will quickly use up all the available water and soil nutrients. And one way of ensuring they don’t suffer too badly during your absence is to group them together in a shady and protected place.
This makes it easy to water them before you head off and less likely, that they’ll be damaged by the sun and strong winds in your absence. But make sure they’re well-watered beforehand; otherwise, they won’t benefit from being grouped together.
Once grouped together, they will form their own microclimate, slightly warmer and drier than the surrounding air - helping them thrive. Feed them with a liquid fertilizer once you’ve left home to ensure they flourish.
These tips will help your plants stay healthy while you’re away.
These tips will help your plants stay healthy while you’re away.
1. Preventing the plants from drying out is the most important thing, so be sure they have a large enough water reservoir that they can survive on throughout the day. If you use a hose timer to prep in advance, be sure not to overwater or leave it running for too long.
You don’t want your soil to become soggy but rather moist and fertile so that all those roots can soak up their nutrients. And if you’re especially forgetful when it comes to watering your garden, consider investing in some water-storing crystals or building a watering system from scratch
2. For container gardens you usually travel in summer, invest in self-watering pots. Self-watering pots will give you peace of mind—and keep your plants happy—while you’re gone. There are several options to choose from, but all have some kind of reservoir built into them.
3. You should tell your friends that you’re okay with them harvesting your vegetables during your vacation. This ensures that your plants keep producing, that the edible produce will not be wasted, and that pests won’t be attracted to it.
4. If you tend to change the layout of your garden from year to year, sprinklers or soaker hoses are better options than drip irrigation, as they are more portable. It is important to remember, however, that sprinklers and soaker hose wastewater may even promote fungal diseases by splashing water on leaves. Drip irrigation targets each plant individually, but sprinklers and soaker hoses water large areas.
Frequently asked questions
1. what’s the best way to hydrate indoor plants?
Using a water wick is another clever way to keep plants hydrated while you are away, especially for indoor plants.
2. which is the best plant for indoors?
herb plants
3. What are the best ways to keep your plants healthy?
You should feed your well-established plants a month before leaving and trim the foliage a week before leaving to reduce water use.
4. How often should I fill my pot?
You should fill them about every seven to ten days to give your plants a steady stream of water.
5. How do I water a plant stake?
Add water to an empty wine bottle (Perrier 750 ml water bottles also work well).
6. How do you water plants if you are away for a week?
Plants should be placed in pots with good drainage so that the water can soak through the roots of the plants, then placed in the bathtub or sink. This method should last about a week, so long as the plants are in good pots with good drainage.
7. Can a plant survive three weeks without water?
Houseplants grown in tropical regions can survive 2-3 weeks without water, while succulents and cacti can survive up to 3 months without water. However, your plants’ type and maturity level can affect how long they can survive without water.
Conclusion
In case you are absent from your garden for a few days, these simple solutions can help you keep your plants happy and healthy. You don’t need to spend much money. I have combined some cheap solutions for your beloved plants. Now you can travel without worrying about watering plants. Enjoy the vacation.
