How to water plants while you are away
For a weekend, water deeply and move pots out of direct sun. For up to a week, use watering spikes or self-watering pots for a few plants. For a week or more, or more than a few pots, use an automatic drip kit on a schedule, which you can check from your phone.
How long can pot plants go without water?
It depends on the plant, the pot size, the soil and the weather. Succulents and snake plants manage a week or more; ferns, flowering plants and herbs in small pots may need water every day in an Indian summer.
Which method suits which trip?
| Trip | Few pots | Many pots |
|---|---|---|
| A weekend | Water deeply, move out of sun | Water deeply, group pots in shade |
| Up to a week | Spikes or self-watering pots | Drip kit |
| A week or more | Drip kit | Drip kit, one per 10 pots |
How do I prepare before I leave?
Water every pot the evening before. Move pots out of afternoon sun. Fill the tank for the whole trip; the calculator gives the size. Run the kit once on manual and check every dripper.
What if someone can visit?
A neighbour who waters twice a week is still useful with a kit running: they can top up the tank and tell you if a dripper has blocked.
Questions
- Do watering spikes work for two weeks?
- Rarely. A bottle on a spike usually empties within a few days, and it waters only one pot.
- How big a tank do I need for a trip?
- Multiply pots by water per watering by waterings in the trip. The calculator does this for you.