How do you water your plants on vacation?

You're so busy booking the best flight, you hardly noticed her. What's that? Your orchid. As you scout out the restaurants where you'll feast on local specialties, she breaks out in a cold sweat. Who's going to take care of her and her fellow orchids back home? There's no need to feel guilty or cancel that hotel with a sea view you've been dreaming of, Monstera has some tips and tricks for watering your plants while you're on vacation.

Take a look at your plants. Which houseplants need watering while you're away? Some species, such as chlorophytum comosum, chinese coin plant, mother-in-law's tongue and succulents, tolerate ten or fifteen days without care.

For these low-maintenance varieties, as for 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 dose of water in anticipation of your vacation. You risk rotting the roots. The same goes for fertilizer.

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

The best way to avoid disrupting your plants' habits is to find a kind soul (neighbor, friend, janitor...) to look after your domestic flora while you're on vacation.

The plant-sitter, whether professional or amateur, will come to the house to water your cacti and Pothos when you're away. Remember to leave all the necessary equipment (room-temperature water, watering can, spray bottle, fertilizer, etc.) on hand. You can also label the pots to help him find his way around.

Another option is to take plants requiring daily misting or watering to a trusted third party. But beware: some varieties, like ficus, hate change. A move could be fatal for them. You should also refrain from moving plants just before or during flowering. Buds and flowers will fall off.

Good Samaritans don't always have a green thumb. To prevent porcelain flower you've cherished for years from succumbing in a weekend, suggest that your replacement download the Monstera app. This will provide him/her with essential instructions and tips on how to care for your collection. This little gesture could well save your plants and your friendship!

Heading off on vacation in August and no one to take over? Don't panic, there are tricks to watering your plants while you're on vacation!

Whichever solution you choose, group your green plants together in the same place. Together, they'll retain moisture better. Place them in semi-shade. They'll benefit from daylight and evaporation will be more limited. Finally, you can place tropical plants on a saucer filled with moist clay balls to increase humidity.

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

To apply this MacGyver-like technique, you'll need :

Fill the basin with non-calcareous water and place it high up, near your houseplants. Cut a piece of wool or string. Dip one end in the water and bury the other in the heart of the pot.

The wick soaks up the water and waters your plant by capillary action. Some plant lovers guarantee that this trick will water your plant for up to two weeks.

Drip systems are commercially available for placing in pots. They release water according to the plant's needs. If you have a lot of specimens (or have emptied your A-book to admire the cherry blossoms in Japan), you can create your own system.

Take a plastic bottle with its cap. Pierce two or three holes in the cap with a needle. Fill the bottle and close it. Place the cork in the pot. Don't forget to pierce the bottom of the bottle to allow the water to drain out.

For a few euros, you can replace the stopper with a ceramic cone to ensure a slower flow.

Your jungle needs a vacation too! If temperatures permit and you're lucky enough to have a garden or balcony, take advantage of your absence to get out your succulents, Monstera variegata and Begonia maculata. They'll need a sun cure, and the rain will take over the watering while you're on vacation.

A few precautions are called for, however. You need to acclimatize your houseplants to life in the great outdoors. A few weeks before you leave, start taking them outside for just a few hours in the shade. Gradually increase the length of time they're outside, and the amount of light. And even when they're used to it, don't leave them in full sun. Prefer semi-shade or a west-facing location.

Jellied water in sachets is sold in garden centers, florists and online. It's a mixture of water and a cellulose derivative. Simply place the pieces of watering gel in the potting soil. On contact with the soil, the gel gradually turns into water.

Gelled water is a reliable and inexpensive solution. The packaging promises to water your plants for more than a month while you're on vacation. A promise kept, according to plant addicts!

Paid vacations didn't exist 2,000 years ago, but the Romans and Chinese had already devised a system for watering without having to lift a finger: Oyas.

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

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

A little more expensive, pots with water reserves or reservoirs can be used all year round. You need to repot your plant in them.

The water-reserve pot consists of a pot, often made of terracotta, in which the plant is placed in its potting soil, and a reservoir which is filled with water. The plant draws the water it needs from this reserve.

Thanks to them, you can go away for two weeks in summer without worrying about your Alocasia zebrina drying out on your return. It's also a great tip for those who tend to forget to water or to be too generous.

Here's the Rolls Royce of vacation watering, the equipment to invest in if you're growing rare species and don't want to take any chances: the indoor plant watering kit.

Genuine miniature irrigation systems, these watering kits consist of a water reservoir, hoses and diffusers, to be planted in the pots. And for drip-accurate watering, some models feature a programmer linked to your smartphone.

Several references are available. Prices vary according to size, brand and functionality (from a few dozen to several hundred euros).

Whatever solution you choose, we recommend that you test it before you leave. There's nothing worse than spending a fortnight wondering whether you've remembered to pierce the bottom of the plastic bottle or whether the sprinkler system has been properly adjusted..