Little Sprouts Program

Little Sprouts Program

You’re planning a holiday away for a couple of weeks. You’ve got everything planned. But what about your indoor plants? Will they be OK without you? We’ve provided some tips below to make sure you come back to happy plants upon your return.

Get to know your plants

Have you figured out the watering needs of your indoor plants? Before going away on holidays, establish a regular watering schedule that not only works for you, but your plants too! Remember, if you’re unsure if a plant needs water, stick your finger into the soil. If the top inch is dry, it’s time to water. Some plants like succulents will likely be OK while you’re away for a couple of weeks.

Get curious and capture notes on how often each of your plants need water. Capture this information on plant labels or a notepad.

For thirsty plants

If you’re going away for less than a week, your plant babies should be OK. For those thirsty plants, you could consider temporarily moving them away from hot or very sunny spots, partially closing blinds or curtains, or mulching the topsoil to reduce evaporation of water from the substrate. Keep mulch away from the stem of the plant. Make sure there is still enough light for the plants liking.

Get a friend or neighbour to water your plants

Can you find someone to water your plants while you’re away? If it’s at work, can you ask a workmate to help? Create a network with other plants lovers where you look after each other’s plants while you’re away. This will lead to inspiration on what you can grow and an opportunity to swap plant cuttings.

We often get asked if people should take their indoor plants home from work over the holidays. This depends on how long you are going away for. If it’s for 1-2 weeks, our tips below should set you up for success. Once indoor plants get used to their location, they can get stressed if you move them to another spot. However, if you’re going to be away for longer than 2 weeks and there is no one to help you look after them, then taking them home where you can care for them may be the best option.

Water your plants before you go

Whatever your plant survival plan, make sure to give your plants a thorough water before going away. If plants are in self-watering pots, water as normal and they will take up the extra moisture from the bottom of the pot as needed. If you’re going away for more than 1 week, check out the following tips to make sure you keep your plants healthy. If you’re going to be away for more than 2 weeks, we recommend getting someone to help with watering.

Homemade wick watering system

The theory of a wicking system is that plants will only take the amount of water they need. Water your plants before starting. The soil needs to be moist for the water in the jar to flow into the soil. Find a wick long enough. Cotton is best as it’s absorbent. Fill a jar with water. The top of the jar needs to be above the height of the plant so water can travel down the wick more easily. You can use cotton fabric, shoelaces, or twine. Put one end of the cotton wick into a jar of water. Weigh the end down so it goes to the bottom. Bury the other end of the wick a couple of inches under the soil making sure not to disturb the roots. You can do this for just one plant or choose a jar or container large enough to set up several wicks going out to a few different plants.

Bottle watering

Another self-watering system you may like to try is bottle watering. The first step is to water your plants, so the soil is moist. You can use a glass or plastic bottle filled with water. The size of the bottle will depend on the size of the plant and how much water it needs.

Using a plastic bottle

If you are using a plastic bottle, drill or poke a few small holes in the cap and/or just under the neck of the bottle. Put the cap on, turn the bottle upside down and bury it so the water holes are under the potting mix.

Using a glass bottle

Alternatively, you can use a glass bottle. Put a few holes in the cap or cork. You can also leave the bottle open and cover it with material like Chux cloth and a rubber band to secure it. This will stop the opening getting blocked with soil. Turn the bottle upside down and bury it carefully beneath the soil so it stays up without support.

Do a test first

A few weeks before going away, do a quick test of the wicking and/or bottle watering methods to make sure it will work for your plants. Is too much or too little watering coming out? Does the topsoil still feel moist after 1 week? How quickly is the water going down? How long will the water last while you’re away? (Make a mark on the jar/bottle when you start so you can keep track). Adjust your method as needed.

Although underwatering is a big killer of plants, you can kill your plants with overwatering too.

Good luck and enjoy your holidays J