Published April 22, 2022

Keeping Houseplants Alive When You're Away

Written by David Metherall

Keeping Houseplants Alive When You're Away header image.

When you’re out of town, there are plenty of kennels and other facilities that will take care of your fur babies. In fact, the pet-care business is booming! However, the same options just aren’t available for your houseplants. So what do you do?

First, keep in mind that plants can go for several days or even a couple of weeks without water. This frequently happens in their natural habitats. So if you’re gone for just a few days, your flora will probably be fine.

Flowering plants tend to need the most water. Give them an extra dose just before you leave. Also, make sure they are in indirect, rather than direct sunlight. That will help them conserve water.

Besides the obvious option of asking friends or family to stop by and water your plants for you, there are tons of great products out there to help. If you’re going to be away for a week or more, consider one of these popular finds:

Self Watering Planters	Plant Stakes	Plant Watering Bulbs

Planters with cavities at the bottom that can be filled with water; plant only gets watered when it actually needs hydration!	Insert a water-filled bottle into stake, soil only absorbs water as it's needed.	These are great for smaller plants as the bulb can be filled with water and the long stem inserted into the soil.

You can find these types of products online at Amazon or in stores like Canadian Tire or Home Hardware. Your houseplants will thank you. And you can vacation knowing that your plant babies are hydrated and happy!