The holiday season is in full swing with many people jetting off across the world, or at least waiting for the day of their booked getaways to come. While it is very exciting, it unfortunately means that precious plants are left to fend for themselves. While the majority of people rely on a family member or friend to check in on their homes from time to time to care for any flowers or crops, it isn’t an option for everyone.
Fortunately, if that is the case for you, there are ways to keep your plants well watered whilst enjoying a well-deserved break , including one simple trick that only requires a plastic bag.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) shared an easy method for keeping plants hydrated while on a quick trip.
The RHS said: “Place a clear plastic bag over your plant and seal it closed. This allows water vapour to be collected and recycled by the plant. Keep the sides of the bag out of contact with the plant by supporting the bag with canes.”
The gardening charity however, warned gardeners that the method is for “short-term absences only”. Therefore, if you’re planning to travel for a longer period of time, it is best to consider other methods to ensure your plants are well-watered when away.
The wick method is one that can be used for large individual pot plants. To do this, you will need a large container and piece of capillary, that will be used as a wick.
It added: “Insert one end of the wick into the reservoir and tuck the other end into the plant pot. This will enable the plant to draw on the water reserves in the reservoir.”
For a collection of smaller pots, homeowners should place a sheet of capillary matting on the kitchen sink draining board, or a surface next to the bath. Fill the sink or bath with water, draping the the matting into it. Then group the plants on the wet matting and press down on them “slightly” to make sure they are in good contact.
The last method is to opt for self-watering containers. These are the best options for plants that require moisture all year-round, and can grow in “permanently moist conditions”.