How to Look After Your Plants When on Holiday

We all love a good getaway filled with sun, sea, sand, and a break from the normal day-to-day. And it’s no secret that August is the peak travel season for those across Europe, so many of us will be packing our suitcases and grabbing our plane tickets.

But if you're a plant parent, there's always that nagging worry—what will happen to my plants while I’m away? Are they wilting? How do I deal with watering plants while on holiday? And how do I keep my summer plants fresh for when I return?

Well, don’t worry. With a little planning, your plants will be just fine. 

To help keep your plants alive whilst you're on holiday, the team here at Eflorist have shared some simple plant care tips for those wondering how to water plants when on holiday. 

As a team of plant and flower lovers, we want to keep both your indoor and outdoor plants thriving while you’re off on your well-earned break soaking up the sun!

1. Move your plants out of direct sunlight

You might think your plant loves a sunny windowsill, and this is absolutely true, but if you’re not around to water it regularly, the extra heat and intense sunlight could dry them out fast, leading them to wilt or sunburn their leaves.

So before you jet off, shift your houseplants to a cooler, and more shaded spot, ensuring you still have some indirect sunlight reaching them.

Whilst on holiday, securing your home is essential, and many people may opt to keep their blinds or curtains closed whilst away from the house. If you have indoor plants, this is completely okay to do, as indoor plants can survive in shady conditions, and dry out less quickly.

 

2. Use self-watering globes for continuous hydration

A handy tool to consider before setting off on your holiday is a self-watering globe. These accessories hold water and release it gradually into the soil, meaning your plants will still receive much-needed water whilst you're not at home.

Simply fill them up and pop them into the soil just before you leave and they’ll do the watering for you!

 

3. Water your plants thoroughly before you go

A simple tip that can do the world of good for your plants is to water them thoroughly before you set off.

If any have saucers underneath your potted plants, it’s also a good idea to leave a little extra water in there, but make sure there isn’t too much, as soggy roots and overwatering can be a cause for concern, and potentially cause fungus gnats to appear.

For more information on house plant care tips, check out our house plant care guide.

1. Ask a neighbour or a friend

Whilst this isn’t exactly a tip for you to carry out, asking a neighbour, family member, or friend to water your plants is a great option for those with luscious gardens.

Our garden plants need hydration, especially during hot temperatures, as this can dry them out more quickly. Plants in the ground need a thorough watering every few days, whereas hanging baskets and containers may need a daily drink.

So as certain plants may need more water than others too, be sure to indicate which ones need more love and care to your plant babysitter.

 

2. Create a DIY self-watering globe

As mentioned previously, self-watering globes are great for indoor plants and flowers, mainly due to their size in comparison to the amount of soil. But for garden plants, these may render useless due to how much water an outdoor plant actually needs.

Instead, you can create your own DIY self-watering globe using a water bottle to allow for more water to be released in larger areas of soil. For this, it’s best to use a glass bottle rather than a plastic bottle, to avoid any microplastics in the soil.

If you’re going to use this method to water your plants while you’re away, the best way to do it is with a clay spike or cone attached.

Simply screw or secure your spike onto the top of the bottle, creating a funnel for your water. You can then flip this upside down, and stick the spike into your soil. 

Clay spikes or cones are ideal for this as they will only let water out when the soil’s dry enough to actually need it, so your plant gets a drink only when it’s thirsty. 

You can also simply poke some small holes in the bottle cap instead, and the water will slowly drip out over time to allow for continuous hydration.

 

3. Deadhead any flowering plants

Plants can grow at a rapid rate at times, and after some time away, we can return home to what seems like a jungle!

As such, it’s best to deadhead any flowering plants, which in simple terms means snipping off any faded or finished blooms. You can do this with your hands, by gently pinching the blooms, or using plant snippers/scissors.

By removing any dead flowers, you can ensure that the plant will stop putting its energy into making seeds, and focus on growing new buds instead. In turn, this means more blooms for you when you’re back from your holiday, as well as keeping things looking neat, and preventing disease from spreading while you’re away.