How to Water Plants When You're Not Home

Occasionally, everyone needs a getaway from home. Pets can be looked after by friends, neighbors, or professional care services, but what about plants? Some plants can survive for extended periods without watering, while others need weekly or even daily care. If you're about to head out on a trip, it's important to ensure your plants receive enough water to stay alive while you're away. Sometimes, you don't even need to rely on friends or neighbors to look after your plants!

Ensure the soil is thoroughly watered. The soil will absorb all the water from the bottle if it’s too dry. You should water immediately if the soil appears dry.

Find a bottle with a narrow neck. A wine bottle is ideal, as it holds enough water to irrigate an area of 0.4-0.6 square meters for up to three days. If you don’t need to water a large area, you can use a smaller bottle, like a soda or beer bottle.

• You can also purchase an automatic plant watering globe from a store.

Fill the bottle with water, cover the neck with your thumb, and flip it over. Don’t fill the bottle all the way; the water level should only reach the neck of the bottle. At this point, you can also add other nutrients, like liquid fertilizer. Cover the neck with your thumb, turn the bottle upside down, and place it next to the plant you wish to water.

Insert the neck of the bottle into the soil. Remove your thumb from the neck of the bottle while simultaneously embedding the bottle into the soil. Ensure the neck is buried a few centimeters deep. The bottle may tilt, but it must remain secure and stable.

Ensure the water in the bottle flows at the correct rate. If water isn’t flowing, the soil might be blocking the bottle. If this happens, lift the bottle, clean it, and place a mesh over the neck. Refill the bottle and insert it back into the soil.

• Use a marker to note the water level on the bottle. Check it after a few hours (or a day). If the water level is lower than the marked line, the water is flowing properly. If the level remains the same, something might be blocking the bottle.

Water the soil thoroughly before using the drip irrigation system. If the soil is too dry, the water in the container will be absorbed before you even leave. By the time you return, there may be no water left in the container. You need to wet the soil properly before setting up the drip irrigation system to avoid this issue.

Place a 4-liter water container next to the plant you wish to water. Choose a spot that doesn’t receive direct sunlight to reduce evaporation. If you’re only going away for a few days and have a small plant, a food storage jar will suffice. Don’t fill the container with water just yet.

• This method will provide water for the plant for up to a week.

Cut a length of cotton or nylon string. The string should be long enough to connect the water container to the base of the plant. If you can't find cotton or nylon string, or if the string is too thin, you can use three pieces of cotton fabric braided together.

• The string must be absorbent. This method won’t work if the string doesn’t soak up water.

Place one end of the string into the water container. The string should reach the bottom of the container. If you need to water multiple plants, it’s best to use a separate container for each plant. This way, you can avoid running out of water while you're away.

• For plants that don’t need much water, such as succulents, you can use one container for two or three plants. Even if the container does run out of water, the plants can survive due to their water-storing properties.

Insert the other end of the string into the soil next to the base of the plant. The string should be inserted about 7.5 cm into the soil. Additionally, make sure the string isn’t exposed to direct sunlight to prevent it from drying out before it can deliver water to the plant.

Fill the container with water. If the plant needs fertilizing, you can add some liquid fertilizer to the water at this point. If the plant is in a sunny location, consider placing a piece of tape over the opening of the container; just be careful not to cover the string. This will help reduce the rate of water evaporation.

Ensure the container is positioned higher than the base of the plant. If the container is too low, you should elevate it with a book, a brick, or an upside-down plant pot to raise it slightly. This will allow water to drip down through the string.

Ensure the soil is completely moist. If the soil is too dry, the water in the bottle will be absorbed before you even leave. You need to moisten the soil before starting this method to make sure the plant doesn’t absorb all the water too quickly.

Find a 2-liter plastic bottle. If you only have a small plant to take care of, a smaller bottle will suffice. You’ll bury the water bottle in the soil, so this method is ideal for plants in the garden or large pots.

Use a hammer and nail to punch two holes at the bottom of the bottle. This is crucial. Without holes at the bottom, the water will remain trapped inside the bottle rather than draining out. This can cause mold to develop.

Punch 3-5 holes along the sides of the bottle. You don’t need too many holes; 3-5 is sufficient. If you make too many holes, the water will flow out too quickly, which is not desirable.

• Punch the holes on one side of the bottle. When you bury the bottle, position these holes towards the plant.
• Start with fewer holes. It’s better to have too few than too many. It’s easy to add more holes if needed, but sealing up existing holes isn’t as simple.

Dig a hole next to the plant you want to water. The hole should be deep enough to bury the bottle up to its neck.

Fill the bottle with water and then place it in the hole. You can also add some liquid fertilizer at this point. Gently tap the soil around the bottle, making sure not to let soil get inside the bottle.

Seal the bottle cap if desired. The cap helps slow down the water flow, which is ideal for plants that don’t require much water, or if you’ll be away for an extended period. The tighter the cap, the slower the water will flow.

• Use a marker to note the water level on the bottle. Check it after a few hours. If the water level hasn’t changed, try loosening the cap a bit. Tighten the cap if the water level drops too quickly.

Find a reliable friend or neighbor. This person will visit your garden and, if necessary, go inside your house to water the plants. Make sure to choose someone you trust. Don’t forget to leave a spare key with them if they need to water plants indoors for you.

Plan carefully. Avoid asking someone who lives far away, and don’t ask anyone who will find it difficult or rushed to come to your house. Try to minimize the number of times they need to visit. People may be willing to come once or twice a week, but it’s not certain they can come every day, especially if it’s out of their way.

• Consider using a DIY watering system. This way, your plants will rely on the system, and your neighbor only needs to refill the water when the bottles run out.

Group plants with similar water needs together. This will make it easier for the person taking care of your plants to monitor them. For instance, you can place all succulents in one area and vines in another. To keep your home tidy, you might want to put the plants in trays.

Write down clear watering and plant care instructions. Your instructions should be detailed but simple, and don’t assume they know everything. Your friend or neighbor may not have the same gardening knowledge as you. What seems like basic knowledge to you may be unfamiliar to them.

• Specific watering instructions could include: Water this plant with ½ cup (120 ml) of water every Saturday evening.
• Specific plant care instructions might include: Empty the excess water from the dish under the basil pot every day.

Water your plants and check for pests before leaving. Watering will reduce the workload for the person helping you. Checking for pests ensures that your plants stay healthy while you are away. If the plants are susceptible to pests, the person you asked to care for them might not know how to handle it, and they may feel guilty if the plants perish during their care.

Offer a thank-you gesture. Even if you know your friends or neighbors will decline, it is still a polite gesture to offer. This shows them that you are not taking advantage of them, and they will be more inclined to help you again when you’re away next time. If they accept your offer, be sure to keep your promise!

Choose a large, clear plastic bag to cover the plant pot. The plastic bag will retain the moisture that the plant releases, and the condensation will drip back down to water the plant. Be sure to use a clear plastic bag so sunlight can penetrate through to the plant.

Place a damp towel at the bottom of the bag and set the plant pot on top. The towel helps keep moisture for the plant and prevents the soil from drying out. Only place enough plants on the towel so that their leaves barely touch. If the leaves crowd together, use an additional bag.

Tightly seal the bag and ensure as much air as possible is inside. You can use an elastic band or twist ties to secure the bag. For extra security, you can fold the sealed portion of the bag down and wrap additional elastic bands around it.

Move the plant out of direct sunlight. Whether indoors or outdoors, make sure the plant avoids direct sunlight—though partial sunlight can be beneficial. If placed in direct sun, the plant might 'cook' from the heat trapped inside the bag.

Place larger plants in the bathtub. For larger plants that don’t fit in the plastic bag, line the bathtub with plastic and some old newspapers, then place the plant pots on top, watering until the newspapers are soaked, and pull the shower curtain over the tub.

• If possible, keep the bathroom lights on.

• The suggestions above won't allow you to water your plants indefinitely!
• Be careful when telling others you’ll be away for an extended period of time.