Sometimes, you get excited about taking time off to go on a holiday, but what about your beloved plants not being attended to? Many indoor plants need regular attention, and without a plan of what to do with them, you may return to a dry, wilted plant and a terrible scenario. Thankfully, there are practical holiday plant care strategies to keep your green friends thriving while you’re away. Terra Plants and Flowers is one of the trusted flower shops in Ottawa for quality indoor plants and flower delivery. We can provide helpful indoor plant care tips and offer smart solutions for plant watering when on holiday to ensure your plants remain as vibrant as you left them.
How to Prepare Your House Plants for Holiday Absence
Before you leave, a little preparation can go a long way to helping your plants stay healthy. If you look at the plant, look for any signs of stress, such as wilting, yellowing, or leaf spots, which could be an inflammatory issue to care about later, if not now. Once you’ve ensured they’re healthy, follow these essential houseplant care tips to get them ready for a few days on their own. The first step is to check each plant’s moisture level and water as needed for each plant without overdoing it, as excess moisture causes root rot. You also want to cut dead leaves and remove debris from the soil surface. By placing your plants together in an area where they’ll receive indirect sunlight and consistent temperatures, you’ll create a stable environment, one of the top indoor plant care tips for extended trips.
Setting Up a Holiday Plant Watering System
Watering is the most crucial aspect of holiday plant care. If your plants need regular watering, consider setting up a system for plant watering while on holiday. There are also various ways, both classical and modern, to ensure your plants are hydrated.
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Self-Watering Pots: For smaller plants, an excellent option is self-watering pots. These pots contain a reservoir built into them, which releases water slowly, allowing plants to stay hydrated for days or even weeks.
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Water-Retaining Crystals: Water-retaining crystals are another useful holiday plant watering solution. Mix these into the soil, and they will absorb water slowly and release it slowly to keep plants from getting too dry too soon. For trips of short to medium length, they can help manage water quite well.
DIY Holiday Plant Watering Solutions
If you’re more inclined to try a hands-on approach, several DIY holiday plant watering solutions can be prepared with household items. These methods are fast, inexpensive, and can quickly set up for short trips. Water-filled saucers can be put under pots with drainage holes, so they have soil to drink out of, drying out your soil without making the roots rot. If you have a larger plant, you can also try the plastic bottle method, filling a bottle with water and poking a few holes around the mouth, then inserting it into the soil upside down. It gradually seeps water out and keeps the soil moist over time. You can also soak sponges thoroughly and lay them on the soil to slowly release moisture, which will help your plant while you're away.
Advanced Holiday Plant Watering Systems
Advanced watering systems automate the process, providing peace of mind for those planning more extended trips. For example, drip irrigation kits are great for watering multiple plants. They use tubes and drip heads to supply water at regular intervals. Some kits even have convenient timers, making them a great holiday plant watering solution for travellers. Another excellent choice for setting precise hydration schedules is a programmable watering timer that can connect to a simple irrigation setup for consistent results.
Ensuring Proper Lighting for Indoor Plants While Away
Lighting is another essential component of indoor plant care tips. Plants need sufficient light at just the appropriate intensity and duration to grow. Light exposure can be adjusted to minimize stress on your plants when you aren’t around. If you want to give your plants enough light, move them a few feet away from windows or use sheer curtains to diffuse the sunlight so they don’t get scorched. Using grow lights on timers for long trips never hurts to keep your plants with optimal light exposure. Before you leave, it helps to adjust your positioning and lighting so the risk of sun damage is reduced and growth stays healthy.
Temperature and Humidity Tips for a Healthy Indoor Plant Environment
Aside from light and water, temperature and humidity are critical elements for holiday plant care. A stable environment maintains transferable stress to plants. For most indoor plants, you can control your home’s temperature to be between 65-75°F. Do not put plants in an area of direct heat or draft. If you have plants that love more humid conditions, you can use a pebble tray with water or a small humidifier to provide an always-on source of moisture. These steps will help you ensure your plants stay comfortable and healthy while away.
Grouping Plants to Increase Humidity
Grouping is a highly effective holiday plant watering solution for many plants because it provides a mini microclimate that retains humidity and reduces water evaporation. It’s a simple technique and works well for many plant types that thrive in consistent moisture. Placing plants close to other plants increases the humidity in that area because plants actually 'give' the air moisture in a process known as
transpiration. But instead of leaving your plant indoors, you can add a shallow tray filled with water and pebbles beneath the pots to increase humidity further, giving extra moisture to plants that need it. It’s best to set up your plant grouping in a stable location, out of the way of air conditioning or heating vents, which can dry the air and impact plant health.
Emergency Watering Tips for Unexpected Travel
If an unplanned trip arises, you may not have the time to set up complex watering systems. Fortunately, several quick and effective plant watering methods can provide immediate hydration during your holiday. For instance, water globes are small glass devices that slowly release moisture and can keep a plant alive for up to two weeks. Another DIY option is loosely placing a clear plastic bag over the plant to create a mini greenhouse effect, trapping moisture. Please make sure the bag doesn’t touch the leaves when you set it up to avoid damage. The other way to help your plants with more extensive root systems for several days is to soak the soil thoroughly right before you leave, giving them the moisture they need on short notice.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Holiday Plant Care
Proper planning for holiday plant care also means avoiding common mistakes that could compromise your plants’ health. Below are a few of the most common mistakes to avoid so your plants stay healthy while you’re gone.
Overwatering Before Leaving
Plant owners may overwater their plants as an emotional mistake because they want to ensure they have enough water while they are away. The anxiety of leaving their beloved greenery unattended drives this common mistake. This emotional impulse must be understood; overwatering can cause waterlogged soil and root rot, ultimately harming the plant.
Direct Sunlight Placement
Plants placed in direct sunlight can be motivated by the worry that they won’t get enough sunlight. This fear-based choice ignores the needs of individual plant species, and excess direct sunlight can cause leaf burn and stress.
Failing to Check for Pests
Minor pest problems can become significant if they are left untreated. Before you go, inspect plants thoroughly, as pests multiply quickly when plants are unattended. Taking time to address any infestations will protect your plants’ health during your holiday.
Best Low-Maintenance Indoor Plants for Frequent Travelers
You can choose plants that naturally need less frequent care if you're away often. We are among the best
flower shops in Ottawa, and also offer several hardy plants that thrive with minimal attention, making them ideal for those who frequently rely on holiday plant care methods. One of the easiest plants to care for is the
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas, Zamifolia), which has low light requirements and likes only minimal watering. The
Pothos is another option that likes a lot of light, can survive with irregular watering, and is very forgiving. The Monstera Deliciosa is also an excellent indoor plant and grows its brightly coloured foliage with little watering as infrequently.
Conclusion
If you plan and strategize correctly, you can have a happy holiday without worrying about returning to wilted or damaged plants. By setting up an appropriate holiday plant watering system, ensuring proper lighting, and managing temperature and humidity levels, you’ll create an environment that keeps your plants healthy even in your absence. Remembering these basic plant care tips and avoiding common mistakes will set you up for success, whether you're leaving for a few days or weeks. We at Terra Plants and Flowers have many low-maintenance indoor plants;
check them out today.
