Have you ever been in the situation where you’re looking forward to a well-deserved holiday, having planned everything, but then the plants come to mind? How can you make sure that they survive while you’re away?
Sometimes it’s not convenient to ask friends or family for help. However, with our 5 tricks and a few household items, you can ensure your plants make it through the holiday.
Bottle trick No. 1
For medium sized flower pots
For this method, you need a 250ml bottle, with a small hole drilled in the lid. The hole should be just large enough for the water to drip rapidly through it.
Now the plant has to be watered well. The soil must be moist so that it can absorb the new liquid.
For the next step, put the bottle upside down on the ground next to the plant. You should be sure that the bottle is stable. It helps a lot to squeeze the earth around it.
The bottle will now continuously drip water in small quantities to the earth, and the plant will stay well hydrated.
Tip: The best way to test this method a few days before the journey begins is to mark the water level on the bottle with a pen. If this does not change after one day, you should make the hole larger.
Bottle trick No. 2
For large flowerpots
This method is similar to the first method, yet it is suitable for large flower pots. With this method, you will hide the bottle and it is useful in the long term. For this method, you need a plastic bottle that can be buried in the flower pot.
First, several holes must be drilled in the sides of the bottle. While the bottle is empty you should place it carefully into the ground, so that the bottle head still sticks out a bit.
Then you should water the plant, in order to make sure that the earth is moist. Now the bottle can be filled with water. The water will be released through the holes and will keep the plant hydrated.
String Trick
For small flowerpots
For this method, you need a container, a pedestal and a thick cotton thread.
The container should first be placed next to the flower pot. For this to work the pedestal must be high enough that the bottom of the container is higher than the earth’s surface.
The plant should first be watered so that the earth is moist.
Now cut the cotton thread to an appropriate length, so that one end can touch the bottom of the container while the other end is in the ground near the roots.
Now you can fill the container with water and the plant will be supplied via the cotton thread.
Tip: If you only have a thin cotton thread on hand, you can try twisting three or four of them into each other. With this method, you shouldn’t leave the container in direct sunlight because this will evaporate the water before it reaches the earth, and as a result, your plant will not be watered.
Multiple Plant Trick
For several plants
This method is especially good when many plants are in a pot or the pot has a hole in the base. For this, you will need a shallow tray that can be filled with water.
The tray must be placed on a stable surface and in a shady place, as direct sunlight can evaporate the water.
The plants can now be distributed on the tray and watered individually. In the best scenario, a few roots may hang out of the pots. If not, the method can be helped with cotton threads, which are inserted through the earth and out of the hole in the base.
The tray can now be filled with water. The roots (or cotton threads) will provide the plant with enough water and ensure they survive your vacation.
Greenhouse Trick
For individual plants
For this method, you need a clear, translucent bag and a wet cloth. The bag must be large enough to fit the plant completely and still be closed at the top because it needs to be water-tight.
First, put the wet rag in the bag. It helps to provide a certain amount of moisture from the beginning.
You should now water the plant and then place it on the rag. Now close the bag firmly with a rubber band.
With this method, the moisture cannot escape from the bag and is available to the plant all the time.
Beautiful Plants Everywhere
There are many places where you can enjoy beautiful plants, and not just inside your home. In the Dutch village of Lisse, between March and May, a beautiful sea of tulips blossoms in Keukenhof park.
In the Boboli garden in Florence, you can admire beautiful plants, fountains and antique sculptures.
Inspired by the Boboli garden, the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris is also worth a visit for anyone who wants to be charmed by nature.
