A SIMPLE “bottoms up” watering hack helps plants to thrive while you’re away on holiday.
These DIY gardening tips ensure you don’t return to a load of wilted or dead foliage.
Gardeners tend to worry about their beloved plants while away from homeCredit: Kseniya Ovchinnikova
There are alternatives to watering by hand while you’re awayCredit: Paul Bradbury
Fortunately, many cope with being watered just once a week.
But maintaining a regular watering schedule while you’re away can prove difficult – unless someone offers to do it for you.
“The last thing you want to do is enjoy a vacation only to return home to Miss Havisham’s garden,” Jen McDonald, a certified organic garden specialist, told Martha Stewart ‘s website.
Here are some useful tips for ensuring your plants cope while you’re away:
House plants
Use empty water or milk jugs to create a DIY self-watering container.
“Fill with water, poke a few holes in the top, put the cap back on, and insert into your planter face down,” said McDonald.
“The water will drip out slowly, providing consistent moisture.”
Or, use a “bottoms up” method.
This involves adding about three inches of water to a shallow tub/sink.
Next, put the drainage pots inside the tub/sink before leaving the home.
This method enables roots to access water while you’re away.
Garden
Applying mulch around outside plants is a good tip, as it helps to retain moisture.
Also, established trees and shrubs should be fine with a deep soaking of water.
Lawns
A drip irrigation system will maintain lawns and large spaces.
Garden stores sell soaker hoses and drip lines to attach to “a hose bib and timer – a quick and easy solution,” suggested McDonald.
The U.S. Sun has this pro tip for keeping your houseplants tidy with a coffee filter.
And an urban farmer has revealed that a is all you need to water your plants.
Also, how about this ?
How much water does a plant need everyday?
Light soils need watering more frequently but with less water.
Heavier clay-based soils can be watered more sporadically but with larger amounts.
If plants are in soil which is rich in minerals, this has superior expansion properties which allows it to hold water in a better and more evenly distributed way.
And for potted plants, a US study published in Greenhouse Management magazine found that small plants used 1 tablespoon of water daily, while large ones used slightly less than 2 tablespoons each day.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
