What do you do with your houseplants while on vaction?

[stacie_d]

We leave on Friday!

Over the summer I have accumulated a small collection of houseplants. (Well, actually 8...but that is quite a feat for me.)

What do you do to make sure your plants are ok while you are gone?

In the time I have had them, I have battled gnats, mealy bugs, wilting, yellowing leaves, etc...I would hate to lose them now! We will be gone for 10 days total. I have seen some automatic watering stakes online, but of course it is too late for that now. I plan to check around town this week to see what I can find.

Anyone have an suggestions?

TIA!

Stacie

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Whatever you do, don't put them on a choke chain and leave them outside!

 

[aprilgail2]

I usually put them outside and let the automatic sprinklers water them the same time they water the lawn...at least that works this time of year....in the winter I just have a neighbor come in and water them.

 

[mickey4ver]

I've had friends who filled the bathtub with a small amount of water and set the plants in them, that they could "drink" from the bottom of the pot...just have to make sure your pots have the holes all open in the bottoms...(boy that sounds weird stated that way doesn't it?)

 

[MosMom]

Houseplants? What are those?

 

[huey duey & luey]

I'm lucky, I dont need to wait til vacation to kill my plants. I manage to do that even when I'm home.
Tara

 

[Laura]

My dad is currently fostering my hibiscus until we buy a house. We don't have a window with enough light.

Generally if the plants can't be brought outside, we have someone come over and water them.

 

[Serena]

Don't ask me to water them either, I tend to kill plants. Either by under watering them, or over doing it.
I really like plants though, I don't mean to kill them.

 

[FroggyinArk]

we make it a pointto go ahead and kill ours ahead of time, saves friends the trouble of doing it for me.... hjonestly,, we have a nursery worker acoss street she takes care of all our plants when we are gone

 

[UncleKyle]

I do the same thing with them when I'm at home. Don't water them.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have all cacti and succulents, so I water them before I go, and they are fine while I am gone.

 

[believe]

My plants are only watered once a week and they have the self watering bottoms...I just make sure the bottoms are filled before I leave.

 

[Jockaroo]

I try to water my plants thoroughly every 10 days not every week, but I monitor them for droopage. I have a peace lily (huge) and many lipstick vines. I have these sitting in trays. When I'm going on a trip (usually 2 weeks) I will water the plant well, then make sure the trays are filled as well. My peace lily is in a large pot and I mixed water saver crystals into the soil when it was last repotted. These crystals are very good--just add a few more than recommended. But you may not want to repot your plants before your trip.

I've also used the spikes that attach to the tops of plastic soda bottles. These self water the plant. Water the plant thoroughly, fill the soda bottle with water and put the spike on the end. Put spike into the dirt, squeeze bottle and the plant will be watered as the soil dries. They work OK, but if an air bubble gets in the spike, no water. And a sad looking plant.

If you have delicate plants, orchids, ferns, etc. you might want someone to check them at least once a week regardless. Good luck! Have a great trip!

 

[disneyatl]

Water them before I leave home and pray they don't die.....