How to Water Plants When Away for a Month

Because you have a knack for interior design, you have plants in your home. Because you have extended vacation time, you have a problem. What to do when you're planning a long vacation away from your potted friends? Here are a few suggestions.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An unsuspecting neighbor kid or another candidate for plant sitter
• DriWater Packs
• Hose

1. There are plenty of neighbor kids who will water your plants for next to nothing (sweet! cheap labor!) or possibly for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (I'd rather pay the kids, though, as I hate making sandwiches). Ask around and look for home-made signs on the stop signs in your neighborhood.

2. If you don't have a kid to exploit, or you don't trust 8 year olds to be reliable with chores (and who can blame you), you can also use DriWater Gel Pacs. They are $2 and you can find out where they sell them in your area at www.driwater.com.

3. Take plants out of direct sunlight so they won't need as much water while you're gone and move outdoor plants inside to avoid drying out and whatever random elements may occur while you are gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Most kids these days prefer grape jelly, just so you know.
• If you have a fickle houseplant (i.e Ficus), its better not to move them.
• Remember - you never want to water your plants TOO much. Over-watering is almost worst than under-watering. Plants can drown, too!

[rayjsm]

on 2/21/2009 Great Article. I've never heard of the DriWater Gel caps. 5* and rec

[AbbyNormal]

on 6/22/2008 Good article. I like the comment about leaving plants in bathtub too!

[imagery]

on 11/13/2007 Good article. We have had success with placing all the plants in the bathtub and leaving it filled with a couple inches of water. One year we used plastic sheeting to create our own Biodome. It kinda worked.

[favefive]

on 11/11/2007 I so need these tips... thanks!