…A handy guide that will give you some tricks to help your plants thrive, while you are away for a brief duration
Picture this: you’re packing your bags, ready for an adventure, but your plants are giving you those “don’t you dare leave us” looks; and you have been wondering how to set the irrigation plan while you are off on your escapades. Questioning whether your neighbours would rise to the occasion and play the role of plant saviours? Or if you should hand over your house keys to a house help who will do the needful? or should you consider investing in a complicated drip irrigation kit? These are all suspenseful sub plots and thus involve a whole lot of uncertainty. So what to do? Fear not! Here’s are some handy DIY hacks you may try for your leafy buddies while you’re off exploring the world. There are harmless, easy to implement and quite economical too. One or more of them could be the secret sauce for your worry. So here they are:
The Capillary Action System:
Self-watering planters:
Invest in self-watering planters or DIY a self-watering system at home, right from the very start. Important to note “from the very start”. If you are a frequent traveller, place your plant in self watering pots from the very start, to avoid the struggle on replacements and repotting every now and then. These systems provide a slow, consistent supply of water, preventing overwatering or drying out. They’re like having a personal hydration assistant for your leafy buddies. These sleek and savvy pots are sure to take your plant-parenting skills to the next level! You can find several ready self-watering pots out in the market or try building your very own self-watering planter using these ingenious hacks. Grab those materials and get ready to sculpt your masterpiece. From repurposed containers to clever wicking systems, these hacks will have your plants sipping water like VIPs at a hydration station. Another even easier way to create a homely self-watering system for plants is by placing the bottom few inches of the plant pot in another water filled container. However, ensure that the inner pot has holes for the water to seep in and supply upwards to the other areas of the potting mix. This will help maintain soil moisture. This method may not be effective always but can be good for smaller pot sizes and for a brief period.
The reservoir bottle method:
Repurpose plastic bottles by cutting them in half. Place the top half (with the cap removed) upside down into the bottom half, creating a reservoir. Fill the bottom half with water, and the soil in the top half will gradually draw up moisture through capillary action.
String method:
Set up capillary action by placing a string in a water-filled container and the other end into the plant’s soil. This way, the plant draws water as needed.
DIY Terracotta system:
Grab two terracotta pots, one larger and the other slightly smaller. Start by sealing the drainage hole of the smaller pot with silicone or a waterproof sealant or any other material you think can act appropriately. Test if the pot is leaking by pouring water in the pot and if it is, seal it further. This is to ensure the water stays inside the smaller pot. Next, place this sealed pot into the larger one, ensuring it sits snugly. Fill the space between the two pots with soil and plants. The smaller pot creates a reservoir for water, acting as a wellspring for the plants in the outer port. The water in the smaller pot will slowly seep out of the porous terracotta pot and will meet the plant’s hydration needs. Cover the smaller pot with a lid and refill as needed.
Group Plants Together:
- Mini greenhouse: Create a mini greenhouse effect by grouping plants close together. This helps maintain humidity levels, preventing quick moisture loss.
- Place plants in high moisture areas: Placing plants in a bathroom or near a kitchen sink can also help due to increased humidity in these areas. However, this is not a very recommended hack, as placing plants in highly covered places, means depriving them of light, which may not work in favour.
Use moisture retaining techniques:
- Use mulching techniques: Apply a layer of mulch (such as sphagnum moss or coconut coir) on the soil surface to retain moisture. Or the top surface can also be covered by pebbles to prevent fast water evaporation.
- Cover the soil bed with plastic bags: For smaller plants, cover them with a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity levels.
Adjust lighting conditions:
- Move into shade: Move plants away from direct sunlight to reduce water evaporation and prevent heat stress.
- Grow lights: You might want to consider investing in grow lights with automatic timers to maintain regular light schedules.
Trim, prune and harvest before leaving:
Remove dead leaves and trim excess growth, before you set off. Harvest ripe fruits, vegetables, flowers, as the case may be, before leaving. This will reduce the overall water and nutrient needs.
Enlist plant sitters or neighbours in case of emergency:
Reach out to a friend, neighbour, or plant-savvy acquaintance to check on your plants periodically. Brief them on care instructions if needed.
DIY watering devices:
Create homemade watering globes using glass bottles filled with water. Invert them into the soil to slowly release water. Remember to have a small hole in the cap of the inverted bottle so as to facilitate the slow release of water. While this is the easiest of all hacks, it might work only for a short duration. So a good hack if you are off for two-three days.
Try Hydrogel crystals:
Hydrogel crystals or products can be mixed into the soil to retain moisture and gradually release it to the plant roots.
Now that you have been enlightened with these hacks, you’ve got to ensure your DIY plant game is on point before your green buddies give it the stamp of approval. So test it out, and watch your plant paradise thrive! – Yes, the test run! Do have a trial run of any automated systems or DIY solutions a few days before leaving, to ensure they’re working effectively. Also feel free to tailor these tips to suit the specific needs of your plants.
By employing these simple yet effective strategies, you can set your plants up for success even while you’re away. Remember, a little bit of planning goes a long way in keeping your leafy friends thriving in your absence. Upon your return, give your plants a thorough check, removing any dead leaves or spent flowers. Gradually reintroduce regular care routines to avoid shocking them with sudden changes.
So whether you are jet-setting or just taking a brief break from your daily routine, leaving your beloved plants behind doesn’t have to mean returning to shrivelled leaves and droopy stems. With a little pre-planning and some clever DIY tricks listed above, you can ensure your beloved plants stay healthy and happy while you’re off on your adventures. Bon Voyage!
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Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
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