7 tips for watering plants on vacation

You're so busy booking the best flight that you barely noticed her. Who? Your orchid. While you're scouring for restaurants where you'll feast on local specialties, she's breaking out in a cold sweat. Who's going to take care of her and her fellow plants left at home? No need to feel guilty or cancel that dream hotel with a ocean view—Monstera is here to share tips and tricks for watering your plants while you're on vacation.

Prepare your houseplants before you leave

Take stock of your plants. Which houseplants need to be watered while you're away? Some species, such as chlorophytum comosum chinese coin plant (Chlorophytum comosum), Chinese money plants, mother-in-law's tongue, and succulents, can go ten to fifteen days without care.

For these varieties that require little care—as well as the others— don't change your routine. Before you leave, continue to water your plants according to their needs. Above all, resist the temptation to double the amount of water in anticipation of your vacation. You risk causing the roots to rot. The same goes for fertilizer.

You can, however, prepare your collection for your absence. Water them regularly for several weeks before you leave. Remove wilted flowers and dead leaves. Treat for pests and diseases if necessary. Healthy plants handle changes better.

Entrust your indoor plants to a plant sitter

The best way to avoid disrupting your plants' routines is to find a kind soul (neighbor, friend, building manager, etc.) to take care of your houseplants while you're on vacation.

Whether a professional or an amateur, your plant sitter will come to your home to water your cactus and Pothos while you're away. Be sure to leave all the necessary supplies (room-temperature water, a watering can, a spray bottle, fertilizer, etc.) out for them. You can also label the pots so they know which is which.

Another option is to take plants that require daily misting or watering to a trusted third party. But be careful: some varieties, like ficus, hate change. Moving them could be fatal. Also, avoid moving plants right before or during flowering. The buds and flowers would fall off.

Good Samaritans don't always have a green thumb. To prevent porcelain flower you've been pampering for years from dying in a single weekend, suggest that your house-sitter download the Monstera app. That way, they'll receive essential instructions and tips for caring for your collection. This small gesture could very well save your plants—and your friendship!

Seven Tips for Watering Your Plants While You're on Vacation

Are you going on vacation in August and no one's around to take over for you? Don't panic—there are tips for watering your plants while you're away!

No matter which solution you choose, group your houseplants together in one place. Together, they'll retain moisture better. Place them in partial shade. They'll get some daylight, and evaporation will be minimized. Finally, you can place tropical plants on a saucer filled with moist clay pellets to increase humidity.

In any case, don't keep them in a windowless bathroom or a kitchen with the shutters closed. A prolonged lack of sunlight would kill them.

A Tip for Watering Plants Using Capillary Action

To use this MacGyver-worthy technique, you'll need:

a basin or bucket;
water;
a ball of yarn or string.

Fill the basin with soft water and place it up high, near your houseplants. Cut a piece of wool or string. Dip one end into the water and bury the other end deep in the soil of the pot.

The wick soaks up water and waters your plant through capillary action. Some plant lovers swear that this trick keeps the plant watered for up to two weeks.

Make a drip irrigation system to water your plants while you're on vacation

You can find drip irrigation systems designed for pots in stores. They release water according to the plant's needs. If you have a lot of plants (or if you've spent your life savings to see the cherry blossoms in Japan), you can make your own system.

Take a plastic bottle with its cap. Poke two or three holes in the cap using a needle. Fill the bottle and close it. Insert the cap into the pot. Don't forget to poke a hole in the bottom of the bottle so the water can drain out.

For just a few euros, you can replace the cap with a ceramic cone, which will ensure a slower flow.

Take your plants outside!

Your jungle needs a vacation, too! If the weather permits and you're lucky enough to have a garden or balcony, take advantage of your time away to move your succulents, your Monstera variegata, and your Begonia maculata outside. They'll soak up some sun, and the rain will take over the watering while you're on vacation.

However, a few precautions are necessary. You'll need to acclimate your houseplants to outdoor life. A few weeks before you leave, start by putting them outside for just a few hours at a time, in the shade. Gradually increase the duration of their time outside and the amount of light they receive. And even once they're acclimated, don't leave them in direct sunlight. Opt for partial shade or a west-facing spot.

Replace Wetting with Gel-Based Water

Gel-based water in pouches is sold at garden centers, flower shops, and online. It's a mixture of water and a cellulose-based substance. Simply place the pieces of watering gel in the potting soil. Upon contact with the soil, the gel gradually turns into water.

Water gel is a reliable and inexpensive solution. The packaging promises to water your plants for over a month while you're on vacation. And according to plant lovers, it delivers on that promise!

With gel-based water, you can be sure your plants will be in great shape when you return – Photo by Mikayla Quinn

The Oya Jar Irrigation Technique

Paid vacation didn't exist 2,000 years ago, but the Romans and Chinese had already devised a system for watering plants without lifting a finger: the Oyas.

These clay jars are filled with water and buried in a pot, the garden, or the vegetable patch, near the plant. The porous material of the Oya releases the water, which is then absorbed by the roots.

More aesthetically pleasing than an upside-down plastic bottle, Oyas are also more expensive. Expect to pay between four and twenty euros, depending on the capacity and the manufacturer.

Use pots with water reservoirs

Slightly more expensive, water-reservoir pots can be used year-round. You'll need to repot your plant into them.

A water-reservoir pot consists of a pot—often made of terracotta—that holds the plant in its potting mix, and a reservoir that you fill with water. The plant draws the water it needs from this reservoir.

Thanks to these pots, you can be away for about two weeks in the summer without worrying that your Alocasia zebrina will be dried out when you return. It's also a handy solution for those who tend to forget to water their plants or tend to overwater them.

The Multi-Pot Watering Kit

Here's the Rolls-Royce of vacation watering—the equipment worth investing in if you grow rare species and don't want to take any chances: the indoor plant watering kit.

These watering kits are essentially miniature irrigation systems, consisting of a water reservoir, tubes, and drippers that you plant directly into the pots. And for precise, drop-by-drop watering, some models come with a timer that syncs with your smartphone.

Several models are available. Prices vary depending on size, brand, and features (ranging from a few dozen to several hundred euros).

Whichever solution you choose, we recommend testing it before you leave. There's nothing worse than spending two weeks wondering whether you remembered to poke a hole in the bottom of the plastic bottle or if the watering system was set up correctly…