How to Keep Indoor Plants Alive While On Vacation

Returning from a great vacation to find your house plants droopy, wilted or brown can ruin you day. Try these tips to avoid the disappointment.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plants
• Water
• Towels
• Bathtub
• Neighbors

1. Household plants can survive for a few days or a long weekend without any attention. Before you leave, test the soil with two knuckles; if they sink into dry soil your plants want water, and thoroughly water if needed.

2. Move all plants to a window or location where they will get plenty of sunlight. If living in a cold or very hot climate, keep plants away from directly touching the glass of a window. This will help avoid frost bite or burning of the leaves.

3. A week to ten day vacation equates to a little more attention for your household plants. Use the knuckle test above and thoroughly water all plants unless they are saturated.

4. Place a towel or two at the bottom of a bathtub or large sink and fill with about two inches of water.

5. Place the plants in the tub or sink and they'll soak up the water for up to ten days. Though low sunlight in the bathroom or sink area may lead to low growth, plants will respond quickly when moved again upon your return.

6. Vacations or trip over ten days leads to greater care for your household plants. Call upon a friendly and trustworthy neighbor to look in on, water, deadhead and rotate plants for that long a period.