Tips for Happy Houseplants While You're Away
Who doesn’t like to travel now and then? But it can be hard to enjoy yourself if you’re worrying over your houseplants. Whether you are jetting off on a summer vacation or going home for the holidays, leave your plants with peace of mind knowing that they will be well while you’re away. Before you head out the door complete this simple checklist to ensure your plants will be alive and thriving when you get home!
What to do before you leave
When it comes to hectic holiday travel, your plants are probably low on the list of priorities. It's a busy time of year-- we get it! But whether you'll be gone for a few days or a few weeks, here are some tips to act on (or bookmark for later) for happier plants upon your return:
Water before leaving - The day before you leave, give your plants a good watering. If you'll be gone for a long time (over two weeks), you may even consider bottom watering, or letting them soak in a few inches of water before returning to their decorative pot.
Climate control - Most indoor plants prefer to live in temperatures somewhere between 65-75 degrees, so do what's necessary to make sure the temperatures don't go too far above or below that window while you're gone.
Maintain humidity - To avoid those crispy edges and keep humidity levels up, try grouping your plants together so they can create a mini-biome and help each other out in your absence.
Self-watering adapter - If you're going to be gone longer than two weeks, we recommend getting a self-watering adapter. Depending on the size of your plant, these can keep it quenched for up to two weeks.
For travel longer than three weeks - Ask a friend to stop by. Plants are living beings and need love and attention just like us and our pets!
What to do when you return
Soak - check the moisture of the soil at the top and bottom of the nursery pot (you have to remove it from its decorative pot). If still slightly moist, return to your regular watering schedule. If completely dry, bring your plant to the shower and give the soil a nice soak through. Let the water drain completely before returning to its home.
Prune - after the shower and when your plant has dried a bit, you should see the leaves perk back up. (occasionally after long droughts, your plants may need a second shower before this happens.) Sift through all the green and thoroughly remove any brown or yellowing leaves.
DROUGHT-RESISTANT PLANTS
Whether you travel a lot or are just plain busy, plants that resist drought for several weeks are the way to go!