How to take care of plants while traveling?

 Trips and holidays are associated with relaxation and carefree. We forget about problems and focus on rest. In the entire plan and preparations for the holiday, it is worth taking into account plants that, left unattended, may lose their appearance or disappear completely. How to take care of plants while traveling?

Each trip for a longer vacation requires planning plant care. Most often, a helpful neighbor or family member comes to your aid, who will drop by in your absence and check the condition of the plants. The problem begins when you can't count on anyone's help and you plan to take a longer vacation. Then what?

colorful flowers in pots on the windowsill

Plants on vacation. What mistakes not to make?

The first thought is to water the plants 'in reserve'. Unfortunately, this is not a good solution, because instead of dried ones, you will find rotten stems when you return, which will be difficult to salvage. As plant lovers of all kinds and experienced gardeners, we must emphasize that it is much easier to restore the form of a dried plant than an overwatered one. Therefore, a better solution is to refrain from watering the plants for about 2 weeks before the planned departure, and the day before the holiday, water them abundantly until the water overflows into the saucer. Also remember to remove excess water from the base after a few hours.

Another mistake, directly related to the above-mentioned one, is leaving pots with plants in larger containers filled with water or leaving water in saucers. Although this method seems to be safe, staying in a water bath for several days can cause root rot. From here it's only a step to losing the whole plant.

Another, not recommended method are self-irrigation balls, which do not provide an optimal dose of water, as a result of which the substrate may overflow or dry out. You can also not lower the temperature in the rooms and turn off the thermostats. Most plants need a temperature above 20°C for proper development during the growing season. Lower values could result in weakening of the plant.

So what should you do to keep your plants in good condition while you're away?

How to take care of plants while traveling? – effective methods

To help you rest peacefully, below you will find some proven and, most importantly, effective ways to protect your plants during your trip. We tested them all personally, so we are sure that they are worth recommending.

Protect plants from the sun.

Remove all pots from windowsills and place them at a safe distance from the window. Just in case, you can lower the blinds or blinds. Remember that each species has its own preferences regarding the degree of sunlight and temperature in the room. Take them into account when planning the place where you will move the plants.

Arrange plants in larger clusters.

Group the plants and put them in a few or several places in one place. Water evaporating from the ground will create a favorable microclimate and will effectively irrigate plants located next to each other. Please note that this method will only work with healthy specimens. Placing plants infected or affected by a fungal disease next to each other may lead to the transfer of infection to neighboring plants.

Use dishes or coasters with water.

Place containers filled with water near the plants. To enhance the effect, you can fill them with expanded clay or pebbles. Water evaporating from the containers will effectively increase air humidity.

The string method.

One of the most effective and at the same time safer methods to maintain the necessary amount of moisture in the substrate. All you need is a string made of natural material and a small bucket or bowl. Set a bucket filled with water above the pot, put one end of the string in it, and put the other end in the pot and fasten it so that it does not slip out. Thanks to this method, the water will soak into the string and then flow freely straight to the ground.

The plastic bag method.

Another interesting option to protect plants during the trip is the foil bag method. Immediately after watering the plants, cover them tightly with a plastic, transparent bag. The water that evaporates from the ground will condense inside the bag and then drip back into the plant. The bag method is extremely effective, and green specimens like it very much, repaying it with the rapid growth of new leaves.

Application of the hydrogel.

And finally, a more professional method using a special horticultural hydrogel. Hydrogel is a preparation in the form of granules or powder, to be mixed with the substrate. This product has the ability to absorb excess water by significantly increasing its volume, and then release it when the substrate begins to dry. Properly applied hydrogel will not only protect the plants during the trip, but can also be a support in the daily care of house, balcony and garden plants.

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We are convinced that among the proposed methods you will find one that will meet your expectations. And of course - the needs of plants. And the question of how to take care of plants during a trip will stop you from losing sleep. You can combine the above methods, adapting them to specific species, or choose one, depending on the requirements of the plants that decorate your space.