Keeping House Plants Watered for 2 Months of Holiday

Leodogger

Has anyone tried to keep their house plants watered for 6-8 weeks whilst away from home. I have about 8 house plants which I have had for a while (some new ones too) which average 1.5 x 2 ft in size.

Anyone have a way to keep them watered for this length of time? I have tried the usual methods of capillary watering which i use if I am away for 2 weeks but the sink would empty of water long before 6 wks and I don't have a bath tub to put them in.

Any ideas ?

annie123

I'd either get someone to water them for you or give them to other people to look after whilst you're away. That's a long time and even if you had a bath tub the lack of light would affect them.

Leodogger

All my family live too far away and we have only just moved here so I would be loathe to ask the neighbours, especially as they are in their late 70's and in ill health. I do have a couple of ideas but don't know how effective they will be, I read about them but have never tried them. First one, to put strings from a jug of water into the soil of each plant which feeds water down the string into the soil.

The other idea is to put large plastic bags around them to act as a greenhouse effect and water them thoroughly before we leave, but again I have never tried this so don't know how effective it would be.

Perhaps someone else has tried them ?

My reason for asking was I wondered if there was a product available that can do this, I have seen one for greenhouses but not for household plants.

ljonski

I would then transport all of them to your family before you go and let them look after them!

jonewer

You could get one of those pet-sitting people to come and plant-sit for you.

Bit of water once a week shouldnt be too expensive.

andrewf75

You could leave them outside? assuming you're away in the summer time

royg_2

I had similar problem last summer as away for most of summer and I ended up putting them outside in a shaded spot after a bit of acclimatisation. I watered them well and a neighbour occasionally sprayed a hose over fence and they coped fine. The riskiest ones were the yuccas for up in central Scotland but also had jasmine and spider plants.

Only downside was found vine weevils near the spider plants this spring and guessing they picked up outside.

psso

As you don't have a bath,
could you fill one of these,put it on the draining board with plants in the sink and capillary type material to siphon water from tub to plants.
Would that work ?


http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=plastic+tubs+for+garden&id=7D8D64B983E11D4F1D96E1D7DA4177DF13A2D52E&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=CD9CA076C57E6B086FE283B93A507FBF46750B4B&selectedIndex=10

Tubs widely available from diy places,home bargains etc

kerri_gt

Can you get some of that gel stuff that holds water? Not sure how long they keep plants watered for but could be worth a shot.