Unless you have some really great neighbors or relatives, there will come a time
when you need to know how to care for your plants while you are away. And sometimes, even though you are home, you just get busy and forget to water. There are several easy ways to help care for your plants when you can't be home or when you don't have time for routine maintenance.  Start by evaluating your plant and learning what its specific needs are. Plants vary greatly. There are cacti and succulents that go weeks without anything but light. Other plants may need water almost daily. In addition to variation in the needs of specific plants, the care you provide can be influenced by the plant’s condition and the indoor environment  Slip your plant out of the pot and look at the root system. If the plant is root bound, the soil won't be able to hold much moisture and it may need water more often than if it weren’t root bound. Is the plant in a very sunny window? Do you have a heating system that takes all the moisture out of the air in the winter? When plants are actively growing, they require more water and light. Take a few minutes to evaluate the factors that will influence your plant. It will help you choose a successful method to care for it.  If you aren't going to be gone long, water plants thoroughly and let them be. Most plants can stand several days with little or no damage. At most, you may have to pick off a yellow leaf or two.  Here are some tips on how to provide the basic needs (water, humidity, fertilizer and light) for plants while you are gone.

Watering
• Give the plants a thorough soaking just before you leave. Submerge the whole root system in water until air bubbles stop coming to the surface.
• Make sure your plant is growing in a good soil mix. Potting soils that contain a high percentage of peat moss will retain more water than sandy soil.
• Leave a little water in a saucer under your plant. This isn't a good practice on a regular basis, but it won't hurt once and a while.
• There are several designs of self-watering containers. They have a water reserve at the bottom of the pot that can water the plant root as needed. A good self-watering container can provide water for several weeks at a time.
• Polymer crystals can be mixed into the soil. The crystals look like big rock salt when they are dry,  and they swell to look almost like chunks of clear Jello when they are wet. The crystals take up water and give it back to the soil as it dries.
• There are fancy wick systems and capillary mats designed for use while you are gone.  They are available in specialty gardening catalogs. If you have several valuable plants, you may want to check into these systems.

One trick is to cluster all your plants together on a table and run thick cotton string from each plant to a bucket of water on the floor;  the string will wick water and the clustering maintains a good humidity level so less water is needed.

Providing Light
• You can increase the amount of natural light available to your plant by making sure the drapes are wide open and the plant is as close to the window as possible. In winter, keep the plants at least a few inches away from the cold glass. Also, make sure one plant isn't being shaded by another. If you'd rather not leave your drapes open, you can use artificial lights. Wash the windows regularly - It can make a significant difference in the amount of light that comes through to your plants.
• Artificial lights can be used to supplement natural light or replace it totally. Pick up a copy of our information sheet Artificial Lights for Plants for more information on the subject. You can purchase very inexpensive timers that will turn your lights on and off each day while you are gone.
• Collect and reflect the light. Believe it or not, those three-sided aluminum reflectors used for suntans are
great. Any shiny, reflective surface will help direct the available light, including glossy white paint, silver
mylar and aluminum foil.

Humidity
• Place a tray under your plants and fill it with pebbles or vermiculite that you cover with water. It will evaporate slowly, keeping the immediate area more humid for a week or two.
• Nestle your plant down into a dish pan (or other large watertight container) filled with damp peat moss or vermiculite. Be careful not to have it so wet that water accumulates at the bottom.
• Plug a small room humidifier into a timer programmed to switch off and on for an hour or two several times a week.

Fertilizer
• First of all, understand that it is nearly impossible for a plant to starve to death in a matter of weeks.
• Avoid feeding the plant for several weeks before you are planning to be away. Fertilizer encourages new growth and then the plant’s water needs are greater.
• When you return, go back to your normal schedule of fertilizing. Water soluble fertilizers such as Bachman's Excel Gro™ are easy for both you and your plants to use.

General Tips
• If it will only be a short time, simply water and move the plant to a shadier area.
• Plastic pots dry out less quickly than clay containers.
• If the plant is small enough, you can place it in a large, clear plastic bag for a few days to help maintain water
and humidity. Be sure to keep the bag out of direct sun.

Recommended Products and References
Quality Green and Blooming Plants           
Containers, Trays and Saucers
Exceloam Potting Soil                            
Bachman's Excel Gro™ Fertilizer
Artificial Light Fixtures and Bulbs
Vermiculite and Sphagnum Peat Moss
Various Reference Books on Indoor Plants

©Bachman's 2008