Everyone who has plants knows that keeping an eye on them is not an easy task at all. Flowers require a certain amount of water and light, they are sensitive to temperature changes. Everything becomes even more complicated when you are going on a long-awaited vacation: you need to prepare them in advance for your departure.
According to gardening expert Lindsay Pangborn, the key to making plants feel great during your absence is to keep the conditions your pets are used to. This can be done in the following ways.
This will allow the plants to receive the perfect amount of natural sunlight while you are away. At the same time, you should be careful and leave the flowers in a place where they will not absorb too much light. "Plants that need it as much as possible should be placed 30-90 cm from the window. This way they will get the necessary amount of sun and keep their water supplies longer," explains Lindsey Pangborn.
If you do not have the opportunity to leave the curtains open, the expert recommends buying a special phytolamp with a timer that will adjust the light automatically.
"Water the plant thoroughly so that the moisture properly permeates the soil. Do not stop until the water begins to flow out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. Then leave the flower for 20 minutes so that the excess water flows out, and only then return it back to the stand," advises Lindsay Pangborn.
It is best to carry out such a procedure in the bath or shower. This will avoid clutter. And don't forget to drain the remaining water from the pan at the end. This way you will not allow the roots to rot.
If there are plants in your collection that are particularly fond of moisture, and you usually use an air humidifier — use simple tricks to replace it during your absence.
For example, gather all the flowers together in a small space where natural daylight gets in. This will create the right microclimate. Or use pebbles on the advice of Lindsay Pangborn: "Put a layer of pebbles on a tray with high sides, pour water and put the plants on the stones. As the water evaporates, the humidity of the air will increase, and the pebbles will protect the pots from direct contact with water."
As in the case of indoor flowers, the expert recommends thoroughly moistening the soil in pots that stand outside, as well as moving them to a protected place where direct sunlight does not fall. "Excessive influence of the sun and wind can lead to the fact that the earth will dry out quickly, and a week or two in the shade will definitely not worsen the condition of plants," explains Lindsey Pangborn.
This is especially important for flowering varieties that grow outdoors. "Plants with cut buds will absorb water more slowly. Pruning will also reduce the likelihood of the spread of the fungus and allow new flowers to form while you are resting," says the specialist.
For small indoor plants that require frequent watering, Lindsey Pangborn recommends buying a capillary mat. It is made of a soft material that perfectly retains water. You just need to put the pot on the mat — and the water will flow directly into the soil.
Another useful device is a ball for automatic watering. Usually it is a spherical glass vessel on a long thin leg. "As the earth dries up, water flows into it from the ball, maintaining constant humidity," the expert explains. The larger the plant in the pot, the larger the ball should be.
Regardless of which device you decide to use, Lindsay Pangborn advises testing it a few weeks before departure to make sure it fits your plant.
These methods will help the flowers to last for two weeks. If you are going away for a longer period, ask friends or family members to look after the plants.
