Watering plants on vacation and no neighbors have time? It’s that easy to make your own watering aids.
Summer is here – the holiday season is calling. But who does the watering of the plants on vacation? If there are no neighbors around, you can easily help yourself with these three tips.
Watering plants on vacation doesn’t always have to be done by the neighbor. DIY is the order of the day here. © 123rf.com/Natallia Khlapushyna
No large high-tech equipment is required to water plants on holiday. All you need for our self-watering systems is PET bottles, paper towels, a bowl and, of course, water.
Especially in summer, when all the flowers are blooming and the plants are bearing fruit, many plant lovers hearts bleed when they have to leave their green darlings alone for so long.
If you want to travel without a guilty conscience during your summer vacation, you should think about the right irrigation system in good time.
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It is important to shade the plants both indoors and outdoors. You may be enjoying your holiday in the blazing summer sun, but your plants prefer a shady spot so that not a drop of water evaporates unnecessarily.
We present three ways to prepare for watering plants easily and inexpensively on holiday.
1st variant: Water the plants generously in advance or put them in the tub
The plants should rather face north in the shade. © 123rf.com/Olga Yastremska
Many flowers are very sensitive and this method is not suitable for them. Even grandma’s tried and true trick of simply placing the plants in the bathtub is not suitable for every variety. Many plants do not like waterlogging at all.
Sturdy indoor plants can withstand a few days in the bathtub or the sink.
You need this:
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- a shady place
- Water
Just let in a few inches of water and place the plants in the basin or tub without a planter. It is important that they still get enough light.
Hardy green creatures can all be put together and watered properly before the holiday. In order to avoid the blazing sun of the south, the flower boxes or potted plants should be moved to the north side of the house or apartment.
Depending on the type of plant, flowers can survive in this way for many days without watering on vacation.
2nd variant: empty PET bottles as a pouring aid
The quick and money-saving solution to watering plants while on vacation: empty PET bottles. © 123rf.com/kwangmoo
Watering plants on vacation with plastic bottles? Upcycling makes it possible. Just grab an empty plastic bottle and remove the label.
The size of the bottle depends on the plant to be watered.
Large tubs and flower boxes already need a 1.5 liter bottle. Outdoors, it should be a bottle made of hard, sturdy plastic.
A 0.5 liter bottle is sufficient for small potted plants. Of course, the size also depends on how long the holiday and the watering should last.
You need this:
- empty PET bottle (1.5 liter, 0.75 liter or 0.5 liter size)
- metal skewer
- Water
A metal skewer (e.g. a roulade skewer) is used to poke a few small holes in the lid of the bottle. You should definitely do a test run before you go on holiday. This is the only way to find out how many holes are correct so that all the water does not seep out. Usually it doesn’t need more than one or two small holes, otherwise the water will flow out too quickly.
Now fill the bottle with water and put it in the ground. Check that the bottle also has a good grip and cannot tip over.
If you want to make filling a little easier, you should simply cut off the bottom of the PET bottle at the beginning. The holiday watering is done so quickly.
3rd variant: kitchen roll and a bowl of water
Paper towels: The secret life hack for watering flowers on vacation? © 123rf.com/Olga Yastremska
Watering alternative plants on vacation does not have to be expensive at all. We’ll tell you how easy it is to create a water supply for your plants.
You need this:
- paper towel roll
- Bowl, bucket, watering can (container appropriate for the plant)
- Water
With this cost-saving life hack, the flowers will provide themselves with exactly the amount of water they need.
To do this, simply tear off six sheets of paper that are hanging together and roll them up or fold the sheets lengthways and twist them a little. It is important to note that bleached kitchen paper is only used for ornamental plants.
You lay this snake out all around in the pot of the plant on the ground. It is important that the paper roll really touches the ground and is pressed down well.
Place your watering can or bowl full of water next to the pot and hang the other end of the kitchen paper snake in it.
Depending on the amount of water, the plants should even survive for more than a week in the apartment without watering.