Houseplant Holiday Hacks

Whether you are like us and have an excess of 50 houseplants, or you are a new plant parent: preparing for that long-awaited holiday and the thought of leaving your friendly foliage to its own devices for several weeks can be quite daunting...

Who will water it? What happens if it's really hot — or cold for that matter? Will it be dead when you get back?

Before you know it, you're at full tilt stressing and haven't even begun to think about the packing... Stop!

We are here to help. Our holiday hacks will smooth out all those stresses, so the only worry you'll be left with is if you grabbed the passports or not.

Our Holiday Heroes

First things first, not all plants need the same level of care, and as a result, some are a lot less needy than others.

Finding out your plants' care requirements (see our Horty Hints and care guides), will prep you for any trip ahead. If you are new to plant parenthood or are thinking about buying your first plant but that holiday next month is putting you off, take a look at some of our no hassle, bulletproof plants that won't even notice you have left. The low levels of care make them ideal for beginners or the frequent traveller.

Our extensive collection of easy to care for houseplants should be well up for the challenge. These robust and resilient houseplants include some of the toughest houseplants going, more than capable of a couple of weeks unsupervised if set up to succeed.

EASY CARE & HARD TO KILL PLANTS

Water Before You Go

As obvious as this sounds, make sure you give all of your plants a good water before you go away.

After watering, line the top of the soil in your pots with a few layers of damp newspaper or hydrogranules. This will stop water evaporating quickly and your plant from becoming dehydrated.

Move To A Shaded Spot

Whilst you expect the best of the hot weather while you are away, you cannot predict the ups and downs we get here in the UK.

Moving your houseplants away from bright light sources such as windows and conservatories, for a short period of time will do them no harm.

Even the sun worshippers will thank you for preventing them from feeling the burn in unexpected heatwaves. This will also stop the soil from drying out faster.

Create A Humidity Tray

Fill a shallow tray with water and place pebbles or stones in it. Then, set your potted plants on top of the pebbles, ensuring that the water doesn't touch the bottom of the pots. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plants meaning they get dehydrated less quickly.

For really thirsty plants, such as peace lilies, put the plant and its grow pot in a deeper basin and fill with 1-2cm of water.

Group Plants Together

When plants are grouped together, they create a microclimate that retains moisture and increases humidity, which can be beneficial for their overall health.

To maintain optimal humidity levels while minimising the risk of mould or disease, position plants in close proximity to one another, but without direct contact.

Clustering plants in the bath or shower can be a great solution, as they are humid spaces which are often out of direct sunlight.

Slow The Grow

As tempting as it may be to fertilise your plants before leaving, it's best to resist. Fertilisers promote growth, and excessive growth during your absence can be problematic since you won't be there to monitor your plants' condition.

Better to aim for your houseplants to survive, rather than thrive during your absence and give your plants a generous water and feed upon your return.

Now that your houseplants are happy, it's time for that holiday... Just remember to send them a postcard.