Gardening is one of the healthiest hobbies you can develop as it keeps you physically and mentally fit. But taking vacations every year is inevitable for many, and in such situations, you may worry about your garden as you need someone to water your plants regularly. Here are a few tips that will help you water your plants while you are away.
1. Water Well:
Just before you leave for vacation, water the plants really well. Keep a tray at the base of each pot. The pots should have holes at the bottom to seep out excess water onto the tray. This way, your plants do not need to be watered for a few days.
2. Install an Automatic Irrigation System
An automatic irrigation system helps you water plants when you go on vacation and help you every day. This is a long-term solution for such issues and is a must if you go on holiday too often.
3. Find a Friend:
This is the easiest way and the most reliable way, actually. If you have a good neighbor willing to help, give them access to your garden and instruct them when to water the plants. This will work even if you are gone away for months.
4. Use Self-Watering Pots:
There are self watering pots available in the market that are designed with an internal irrigation system that allows soil and plant roots to soak up water without getting soggy. This typically consists of a water reservoir, drainage hole, and wicking capabilities to keep the soil at an optimal moisture level for plant growth. Remember, this will work for a good number of days, but if you are away for months, you need a long-term plan to water your plants.
5. Use DIY Methods:
There are cheap DIY methods that can help in watering your plants. You can easily find many on YouTube. The most common one is filling a plastic bottle with water, making holes in the cap and several holes in the bottom of the water. Reverse the base into the soil and tie it up with support. Water will slowly seep into the soil and water the plants for a week at least.
6. Time Your Vacation:
You can avoid the issue of watering if you can plan your vacation during the rainy season, where the plants will naturally be watered, and you can enjoy your holiday without any worries. It is still a good idea to keep a tab of the rain updates. Weather can get unpredictable, and there might be no rains as anticipated. In that case, keep a neighbor as a backup who can water your plants.
7. Shift the Pots:
If you do not have a large garden but just a handful of pots, you can always shift it to a friend’s place nearby, where they can be regularly watered and taken care of. This way, they will be comfortable watering the plants, and you can go on long vacations.
The Bottom Line:
When you are away, you may have to work a combination of a few of the tips above to make sure your garden is safe and blooming when you come back.
