If you've put hours of time and effort into cultivating your garden this year, the last thing you want is for your plants to be neglected while you're away on vacation. During the hottest part of the year, it can be disastrous to miss even just a few days of tending — plants can run out of water, go to seed, or get scorched by the sun. To help set up your houseplants and gardens for success this summer, gardening experts provide the following tips on "vacation-proofing" all your beloved plants.
- • Give plants a "spa day" before you go. Prune house plants, dust leaves, and re-pot if necessary. This is a good opportunity to switch to self-watering planters, too.
- • Place plants strategically — group them together to create some humidity. Slowly move indoor plants away from indirect lighting to get them acclimated to darker areas if you don’t plan on keeping the shades or blinds up. For outdoor plants, you might want to move them under a large tree, awning, or other source of shade, especially if it's going to be hot. This will prevent them from drying out too quickly while you're enjoying your vacation.
- • Water all of your plants right before you leave for vacation and ensure they have appropriate drainage. You can even buy some self-watering globes to keep your plants from drying out.
- • Your outdoor garden beds will also need water while you're away, and if you don't have a neighbor who can stop by, there are plenty of options for automating outdoor watering.
- • If money is no object, you can also hire a plant-sitter. The average cost ranges from $15-$30 per visit for basic watering and care, or $25-$50+ per hour for specialized attention (such as fertilizing, pruning, and re-potting). Monthly professional care packages can range anywhere from $100-$600+ depending on the size of the plant collection.
