Tips to take care of your plants during the vacations

Delegating care to someone you trust is just one of the formulas for taking care of your plants on vacation, although there are other tricks for maintaining them if you are going to be away for several weeks.

Reorganizing them is the first step, not in vain, grouping them together will facilitate the task of caring for them during the vacations. If they are indoor plants, be sure to leave them in a space with enough light but without it being a risk. And the same if you have your pots on the terrace or balcony. Look for a cool area where the incidence of the sun does not become a problem.

It is not only the location that matters. It is also essential that you leave your plants in perfect condition so that, upon your return, the deterioration -if any- will be minimal. In addition to providing them with enough water to withstand the first few days, you should clean the damaged parts by removing dry branches and leaves. This will reduce the chances of the problem getting worse while minimizing the water consumption of your plants.

Avoiding exposure to direct sunlight and ensuring proper humidity and watering are part of the basic tasks that will prevent the deterioration of your plants when you are on vacation.

Among the most effective ways to help your plants survive the vacations is to delegate their care to someone you trust. A friend, a neighbor or a relative can take care of them as a favor. Although if you don't want to complicate anyone with the task, don't despair. There is an alternative.

One of the best ways to take care of your plants on vacation is to leave a drip irrigation system installed. In the market you can find installation kits for all types of gardens, terraces or balconies in a wide range of prices.

In essence, you only need a few basic components (tubing, sprinklers or drip...) to which you can add programmers. This component will make the care of your plants a simple and automated task that will continue to work, even when you are away.

An alternative that is gaining popularity are the so-called hydroponic planters or self-watering pots. Aesthetically they are similar to the conventional ones. The difference lies in the fact that they have a water reservoir and a self-watering system that will ensure that your plants lack nothing.

There are even more modern versions, intelligent pots whose attentions go much further. Through sensors they can not only detect watering needs but also other needs such as light, temperature or fertilizers.

Clay dosing cones and gelled water are less sophisticated but equally effective options. Both solutions allow you to meet the needs of your plants in a simple way.

The dosing cones come in different versions, although the mechanics are usually similar. It is enough to insert them in the soil, attach a bottle with water and you will have guaranteed irrigation for several days. With the gelled water something similar happens, although without the need to place any bottle.

Placing basins in the room where you place your plants, making a homemade greenhouse or putting your pots in the bathtub with water but on a porous surface (a ceramic plate, some bricks...) to prevent the roots from rotting, are some of the "home remedies" to try to ensure the health of your plants during the vacations.

However, one of the most common traditional techniques is the cotton cord (although you can try other absorbent materials). It consists of placing one end of it buried in the pot and the other in a container with water. Capillarity will do the rest.

The DIY version of the drip irrigation system is also not bad for ensuring the health of your plants during the vacations. All you need is a large recycled bottle - the larger the capacity, the longer it will provide water for your plants - to be placed upside down half-buried in your pots.

Be sure to pierce the plug beforehand so that the soil can absorb the water according to its needs. Depending on the weather and the plants themselves, this system can last about a week.