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Keeping Plants Alive When You're Away |
| By Ellen Brown |
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Q: I'm going out of the country for June, July and August, the hottest months of the year, and I am looking for advice on how to keep my plants alive for the duration. They are all in containers and include a rose bush, tomatoes, peppers, mint, and a few others. For the grass I can use sprinklers, but the plants? Thanks very much in advance.
My hardiness zone is 8-10
BK from Milpitas, CA
A: BK,
Leaving plants in the summer is much more perilous that taking off for a week or two mid-winter. The plants are actively growing now and require much greater amounts of water. Ideally, if you're going to be away for that length of time, you would want to hire a plant sitter. This could be a friend or someone who advertising this service. Contact local garden centers and nurseries for suggestions. If you can't find a plant sitter (or don't have a friend that can drop by), you can try setting up an automatic watering system in your bathtub.
- Several weeks before your trip, start collecting plastic buckets (lids are not necessary). Punch a small hole in the center of the bottom of each bucket and stop fertilizing your plants.
- Buy inexpensive candle wicks and using a tweezers, push one end of the wick up into the pot through the drainage hole on the bottom. Make sure it's in contact with the compost in the pot. You might want to experiment with this for a few weeks before you leave to ensure the plant is able to draw water up through the wick.
- If possible, trim plants that can stand pruning back so they require less water.
- On the day you leave, water all of the plants thoroughly from the top until water runs out the drain hole. Place damp peat moss or mulch around the top of the pots to keep soil moist.
- Group the plants together in the bathtub. Use the plastic buckets you collected (bottom side up) as plant pedestals. Run the self-watering wicks from the bottom of the pots down through the hole in the bucket so it will dangle in the water when you fill the tub.
- Fill the bathtub with tepid water. One quarter full? Your guess is as good as mine. Just don't fill it so full the buckets start to float. You might need to punch some holes in the side of the buckets to let water in (and air out).
- Shut the shower curtain/door, and make sure the blinds or curtains on any windows in the room are closed at least _ way. Less light will slow down growth and the plants will require less water.
I have no experience leaving plants for this amount of time, so saying a few prayers won't hurt either-one for the plants, and the other one for the bathtub not to spring a leak!
Ellen
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About The Author:
Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com |
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RE: How can I keep my plants alive when I am gone for months?
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Post By (Guest Post)
(05/27/2006)
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Carlas..
will it work if the plant are all lined up? I have the pots lined up against my ~east facing wall. It is the only one that recieves max sunlight. the smaller plants in front of the window and the tomato plants by the side against the wall part of the wall.
$10 seems a much easier amt to deal with..:)
Thanks.
RE: How can I keep my plants alive when I am gone for months?
If you have a location where you can get them all reasonably together - buy a bubbler hose (about $10.00 at any hardware store) and a faucet timer. String the bubbler from plant to plant and set the timer. I do recommend you splurge and get a good timer. As a precaution, ask a friend to swing by once a week just to make sure 'everybody' is alive and well. I also recommend you test the theory for a day or two before leaving, just to make sure you set the timer correctly.
RE: How can I keep my plants alive when I am gone for months?
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Post By (Guest Post)
(05/23/2006)
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Jody,
I did..:) I asked my neighbour and friend. but I wanted that as a last option as she also has a 1.5 yr old always on the move toddler..:).
Thanks :)
RE: How can I keep my plants alive when I am gone for months
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Post By Jody (Guest Post)
(05/23/2006)
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Have you thought of having a friend do your watering while you are away or hiring a 'plant sitter'. :-)
RE: How can I keep my plants alive when I am gone for months?
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Post By (Guest Post)
(05/23/2006)
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Thanks for your advice... I can't put them in the bath tub as they need the sunlight. the Wicker way sounds nice and frugal. I'm putting that down as a possibility and going to check how much a drip system will cost.
Thanks very much.
RE: How can I keep my plants alive when I am gone for months?
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Post By Cheryl from Missouri (Guest Post)
(05/22/2006)
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Fill the bathtub with a couple inches of water and place plant containers in the tub. The plants will absorb the moisture they need through the drain hole in the bottom of the container.
RE: How can I keep my plants alive when I am gone for months?
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Post By pamphyila (Guest Post)
(05/22/2006)
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Three months is a long time - but I have WICKED my plants for shorter periods. that is, I have put containers of water next to the pots, and made a wick out of paper towels from the water to the plant. The water is sucked up into the plants - (There are also fancier devices you can buy on the same principle.) ALSO, I have TENTED my plants - that is - enclose them in clear plastic bags or other clear plastic for sort of a mini-green house - That way they get sun, but the mosture evaporates on the plastic and keeps the plants moist. HOWEVER, I am not sure that this will last for more than a few weeks. Couldn't you get someone to fill up the containers for the wicks every 3 weeks or so? Or - what my grandmother did - put all her houseplants in the bath tub and have someone water them occasionally. OR you could install a drip watering system on a timer, like your sprinkler. Hope this helps.
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