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7 TIPS TO HAVE HEALTHY PLANTS WHEN YOU RETURN FROM VACATION
When we go on vacation, the care of the plants is limited to the favors of the neighbor, who from time to time comes to water them. We are not always that lucky and the neighbor also enjoys his vacation. Learn to be self-sufficient with these tips and find your plants as healthy as you left them.
Plants require care all year round, especially when it comes to water. More than 15 days without watering, especially in summer, which is when most people go on vacation, ensures that the plant dries completely. So we are going to try to solve this problem with a series of measures that ensure the water content in the plant. We give you 7 tips, although surely you know a few more, right?
1.- THE BUCKET OF WATER AND THE WET CLOTH
This technique consists of placing a bucket full of water next to each plant, or a bucket for several plants, if they are small. The plant and the cube are connected by means of a cotton cloth, a cord. Something more homemade yet? an old sock or socks, which we partially bury on the ground and the other side will connect with the water. Through capillarity, the water flows constantly through the absorbent material. Plant care can be achieved with watering for several days.
2.- THE BATHTUB WITH WATER
This method is very simple. For those who have a bathtub, it consists of filling it with about 5-10 cm (at 1/3 of the height of the pot more or less) and placing as many plants as you want or fit. By capillarity, the water will rise through the substrate until it nourishes the plant.
3.- SCHEDULED IRRIGATION
There are different types. There are devices to control the irrigation time that are very cheap. There are also others to control different hoses or drippers that are inserted in the form of a spike on the substrate of the pot. This runs the risk of hose failure or leakage, although it does not have to be this way if things are done well. If you do not trust, you can always use the classic methods. For long-term plant care (a long vacation) this system is the most modern, and therefore most accurate. Especially ideal for outdoors. It has the advantage that there is no water limit, and therefore, you can take advantage of your long vacations without worrying.
4.- WATER BOTTLE WITH HOLE
This system gives very good results but in short periods of time. It consists of a bottle placed upside down where a small hole is made (depending on the amount of watering), which falls drop by drop on the substrate of the plant. You should choose the size of the water bottle depending on the days you are away from home, but in general, it is not specific for long periods of time, since you can only place a 5-liter bottle in large pots.
5.- FLOWERPOT WITH AUTOMATIC WATERING
They are modern pots with a built-in irrigation system. We no longer need to incorporate an external irrigation system, if not that it is authorized, on a scheduled basis. It is a system through which water passes through a circuit, wetting the substrate and watering the plant. It is a good system for taking care of plants on vacation and it is not very expensive (from € 13 onwards).
6.- MULCHING PADDED
The mulch is not an irrigation system but a humidity control system. If you are going to be on vacation for a short time, you can do an abundant watering before leaving and mulch the plants. In this way, you get more moisture to be retained, less evaporation occurs, and therefore the plant stays moist for longer. Ideal for plant care if you are away from home for a short time.
7.- THE NEIGHBOR
This, without a doubt, is the best system. It consists of a pious, very kind and trustworthy neighbor, to whom you leave the keys and twice a week he comes to your house to water the plants. It is 100% effective unless you are forgetful. It has the disadvantage that they also tend to go on vacation and that favors are returned. If you are lucky enough to not coincide when you go on vacation, you take care of yours the time the neighbor is away and you when your neighbors leave.