How to save flowers if you are leaving for a long time. How to save indoor plants during the holidays: practical ways to "remote" watering

Indoor flowers are beauty and comfort in the house, as well as clean air enriched with oxygen. However, they require systematic care and proper watering otherwise they may die. This problem becomes especially relevant when you need a long absence, when you need to leave for a vacation or weekend.

It is good when there are relatives or close friends who could be trusted with watering flowers during the holidays. But in the summer they can also go on vacation. In order to save plants, it is better to familiarize yourself with the options for self-watering systems and how to use materials at hand in advance.

Plant preparation

A long break in the care and watering of plants is stressful, so you should prepare them for it in advance, make sure that there are no problems.

• In the light in plants pass more actively metabolic processes so they take in more moisture. To slow down the metabolic reactions in plant cells, it is necessary to provide them with a more shady shelter - draw tighter curtains and remove the pots from the windowsill.
• The soil under the plants should be well moistened, then wrap the pots with wet paper, and on top of it with plastic wrap.
• Small flowers for the holidays can be closed with a glass or transparent plastic tank, but not tightly - air must flow from below for them to breathe. Evaporating moisture, condensing on the walls of the hood, will flow back.
• Remove large buds from flowers that require more moisture, as well as dried leaves.
• If there are diseased plants, they should be treated with preparations a few days before departure.
• Ten days before the holiday, stop feeding.
• Eliminate drafts in the room where the plants are located.
• If the pots are standing in water, it is better to place coasters under them so that the roots cannot freeze.
• Flowers will feel more comfortable in earthenware than in plastic.

Remote watering methods

How to water the flowers during the holidays so that they do not dry out and disappear from an excess of moisture? Travelers should take into account the following facts.

• Plants in ceramic pots can be left for up to seven days or a little more using easy way: moisturizing in sufficient soil in a pot, it is necessary to wrap it with a thick layer of wet moss. In its absence, it is necessary to put a clay pot in a larger plastic container, and between them pour a layer of expanded clay and moisten it well with water.
• Plastic pots with moisture-loving plants should preferably be left in trays filled with water to a third of the height of the pot. From above, the substrate must be covered with wet moss or expanded clay.

• well, water all the pots with excess before leaving them at home;
• then you need to leave them in the pan for a while so that the glass has excess moisture;
• collect all the flowers in the back of the room, as compactly as possible;
• put pots with moisture-loving plants in the middle, surrounding them with more hardy ones;
• place around as many containers with plenty of water as possible - evaporating, it will be absorbed by green leaves.

• cover the stand with waterproof oilcloth or film;
• put a soft, damp cloth on top of it - an old blanket, thick batting will do;
• lower one edge of the fabric into a large container of water;
• place pre-watered pots on the blanket;
• the flowers will absorb moisture from the damp cloth thanks to the drainage holes.

Wick watering

• You can organize continuous watering of indoor flowers during the holidays using a woolen twine wick. One of its ends should be put in a pot with a flower, lightly sprinkled with soil, and the other should be lowered into a container located above the pot and filled with water. This irrigation option is very convenient, but you need to correctly calculate the number of wicks depending on the size of the plant.
• The wick method is often used for watering not very big flowers, for example, violets. But he requires transplanting them into a dish with a cord laid at the bottom. The pot itself is installed on a jar of water, the second end of the cord is lowered into it. Water, rising along the cord, provides soil moisture.

• Since it is very convenient to water flowers with the help of devices that provide uniform drip access of water, thin tubes are often used for this purpose, for example, pharmacy droppers without tips. If there are a lot of pots, you need to tie the same number of droppers. Next, you need to tie a sinker to them and lower them into a large bucket of water. Put it on an elevated place, and place pots around, in each of which fix the second end of the tube. If you properly adjust the flow of water, you get an excellent self-watering system that helps out during departures.

• One of the most simple options drip irrigation is a plastic bottle:
• make small holes in it from two ends;
• fasten it upside down flower pot or over it;
• adjust the flow of water by changing the size of the hole so that indoor flowers do not dry out.

The main thing is to choose optimal size bottles for each plant. Due to its low cost and availability, this method is also widely used in gardens and orchards.

Use of hydrogels

• There are special polymers that have the unique ability to absorb large volumes of water and then gradually lose it. Their soft granules are added to the substrate for indoor plants, so the pots do not need to be watered often. If you transplant the plants into such soil and water well before leaving, they will be provided with enough water and will not dry out.
• Colored balls of Chinese hydrogel can be filled with water for several hours. The swollen granules must be mixed with the top layer of the substrate, and covered with moistened moss on top.

Automatic irrigation systems

Today there is big choice systems for automatic watering plants. While on vacation, they can be trusted with flowers without fear that they will dry out.

The simplest of them and the cheapest consists of two parts. A ceramic cone with porous walls is installed in the ground and filled with water. It slowly hydrates the soil. With the help of a thin tube, water is supplied to it as it is spent. The system is extremely easy to use and reliable.

More complex devices have approximately the same mechanism of action and differ in price and time period during which watering is carried out. Basically, they consist of the following elements:

• a capacious container for water and tubes through which it will be supplied to the plants;
• special (not clogged with soil) tips made of porous material;
• timer for automatic regulation glaze;
• a regulator that determines the flow of water;
• a sensor that measures soil moisture;
• pump for pumping water.

If you know how to organize watering during the holidays, you can safely go on vacation and not worry about the flowers temporarily left at home. However, the chosen method must be tested and adjusted in advance to be sure of its reliability.

The problem of watering indoor flowers during the holidays is familiar to many. Going on vacation with your family, you need to entrust someone with the care of pets.

It’s good if there is one of the relatives who understands at least something in indoor plants and can water it properly. Or at least just water occasionally so that they don’t dry out at all.

But almost always, upon returning from a trip, you have to count the losses - it dried up without water, its roots rotted from excessive watering, something was broken, something was crushed.

And if there are no relatives or close friends ready to take on the responsible mission of caring for your indoor plants?

If you are leaving for a month or more, then without special system auto-watering is indispensable.

Now they are sold in any city and are a water tank of a certain size, a set of thin tubes and a control system that provides water from the tank at the right intervals. You set how often and how much to water, and you can safely leave. But in order to avoid unwanted surprises, it is better to try how it works before the holidays.

And if there is no automatic watering system, then you have to come up with different tricky ways to water the plants during the holidays. It should be said that all these tricky ways are good if you are away for 1~2 weeks. If more, then how lucky!

There are several ways to provide plants with water on holiday.

Method 1. Grandma's old way. Water the plants abundantly so that the earthen lump is completely saturated with water. Place the pots on pallets or in wide basins of water so that Bottom part the pot was in the water (shallow). It is even better to pour small pebbles or coarse sand into the pan and place the plants, slightly deepening.

This method of watering during the holidays is suitable for undemanding plants, which tolerate both excess moisture and overdrying (chlorophytum, geranium, balsam, chamedorea palm, sansevieria, crassula).

Method 2. Use plastic bottle. Water the plant well. Take a plastic bottle with a cork, heated on fire with a thick needle (you can use an awl, knitting needle) to make two holes - one in the cork, the other in the bottom. Pour water into the bottle and secure it with the neck down. Water will constantly flow out drop by drop and moisten the soil. So it is better to water large-sized plants.

Be sure to try this method some time before departure: take several different bottles, punch holes, set the neck down in any tall dish (each separately) and see how much water drips from each of them per day. If you choose the right bottle for each plant, then the problem of watering during the holidays will be optimally solved.

Method 3. Wick watering. This is a common method constant watering for some plants, in particular Saintpaulia (violets). The essence of the method is that the pot with the plant constantly stands on a vessel with water, in the soil under the plant one end of a synthetic cord is laid in a ring, its other end is lowered into a vessel with water through a drainage hole. The cord should absorb water well. Water wets the cord along its entire length, rising from the vessel into the pot and moistening the soil.

This method of watering is suitable for small plants and requires them to be transplanted into a pot with a wick.

But this method can also be used for temporary watering for the holiday period. To do this, a synthetic cord that absorbs water well is taken or a tourniquet is twisted from a strip of fabric. One end is placed on the surface of the earth in a pot (preferably sprinkled with a little substrate), and the other is lowered into a bucket of water. It is better to place the bucket above the pot (then the wicks do not dry out). Usually plants are placed on the floor, and a bucket of water on a stool.

It is important to test this method on each plant in advance. Some plants need several wicks, others only one. This method of watering is good for 10 days of vacation.

The same method is used to moisten a pallet with pots placed in sand or peat.

Minus - sometimes in hot weather the wicks dry up and water does not flow to the plants.

On sale you can find ready-made wick systems for irrigation, consisting of a tank of water, a wick and a porous ceramic rod for immersion in the soil.

Method 4. Use hydrogel. Hydrogel is a polymer that can absorb water in a very large quantities and then slowly give it to plants. It is sold in granules.

The polymer is soft, colorless, absorbs water quickly and is designed to be added to the soil. Indoor plants planted in a hydrogel substrate are rarely watered. It is good enough to water the flowers before the holidays, and you can not worry for a week or even two. They won't rot, and they won't dry out. Minus - plants must be planted in advance in such soil.

You can also use decorative Chinese hydrogel in the form of colored balls.

Hello to all readers! Most recently, my family and I went on a small 4-day weekend to the sea. Oh, how good .. Summer, sun, sea, beach ... But while I was relaxing and moving away from a busy year (and it turned out to be not easy), my greenfinches at home suffered! Upon arrival, I found drooping (pressed the leaves to the trunk, like a wounded bird), phalaenopsis, spathiphyllum, and also the loss of a few leaves from the ficus, yellowing of the tips of difenbachia, monstera, ... Eh, I was only 4 days away from home, and the flowers in such heat has already begun to die!

The theme of watering during the holidays was born by itself: “What about people who leave for 6-8 weeks? How can they maintain their "green wealth"? How to water flowers during the holidays? . Of course, there is a way out: they will be watered (and constantly), and you will have a rest in pleasure! Read!

Automatic watering system

Watering flowers while on vacation- a problem for many flower growers, but it is SOLVED! If you are preparing for prolonged absence(for a month or two), then, alas, you can’t do without buying an automatic watering system. This installation- this is nothing more than a tank of water and thin tubes through which the supply is carried out after a given time. Before leaving, you just have to set the frequency and one-time dosage, and you can safely dress up a swimsuit with a hat! You can find a "sprinkler" at any houseplant store.

Do you understand? It is best to carefully check the operation of the automatic watering system and adjust it as accurately as possible so that after the holidays you do not have to wipe your tears.

Watering the "grandfather method"

If you are leaving for 1-2 weeks, then during your vacation you can do without purchased systems. Listen to the grandparents, because they did not know before modern technologies, and they still have flowers that stand on the windowsills! A painfully proven method is to water the plant abundantly and put it in a pan of water. Should be in the water only a third of the pot. As moisture decreases, the roots will begin to use it from the pan. You can take a wide basin, pour coarse sand or pebbles into it and pour water. Make a hole in the sand and insert the pot.

The method is good for unpretentious plants, such as sansevera, aloe, chlorophytum, balsam, nolina, scindapsus, cyperus,.

Yes, the method is not ideal, and for sure the flowers will be “slightly shocked” by such an influx of moisture, but sometimes you have to do this. We are trying for the sake of our loved ones :)).

Drip irrigation from plastic bottles

This method is a do-it-yourself automatic watering system, and it's FREE! The most normal and gentle method of watering flowers during the holidays!

What is needed for this? First of all, water all the flowers well. Next, we take a plastic bottle with a twisted cork, with a hot gypsy needle we pierce a hole in the cork (in the center) and in the bottom. We fill the bottle with water, hang it over the plant. Water will gradually drip and constantly nourish the soil. The method is good for plants such as avocados,.

Again, you look in advance how much water drips from a bottle per day, maybe you need to make a smaller hole? Or, conversely, more? For plants in large containers, use 2 liter bottles, for "kids" containers of 0.5 liters are also suitable.

Wick watering

The method is mainly used for watering saintpaulia and their "girlfriends" (, gloxinia, koleria, episcia, aeschinanthus). The essence of the method is that the pot with the plant is placed in a vessel above the water, and a wick is pierced through the drainage hole from the water, which is twisted and “planted” together with the plant (located at the roots). Through the impregnated wick, water passes to the roots.

But we will not use this classical method, but simplify it slightly. What do you need? A bucket or a bottle of water, a wick (a tourniquet, a fabric rope, a piece of fabric that absorbs moisture well), a stool and, in fact, a pot with a plant. Have you already guessed? We put a vessel of water on a stool, dip a wick into it and soak it well, then fasten it so that it does not fall out of the bucket. After that, we twist the second end of the wick with a snake and place it on the surface of the pot, you can even lightly sprinkle it with earth. We put the pot on the floor. In this way, moisture through the wick will constantly flow to our plant.

In addition to the Gesneriaceae family, water like this, cacti and other succulents, persimmons,.

Wick watering, like other do-it-yourself automatic watering systems, test in advance. Some flowers will require two or three wicks, while others will only need one.

By the way, wicks for watering can also be found in flower shop, but why spend money, it’s better to spend money on vacation properly :)).

Hydrogel and hydroponics

Finishing considering all sorts of options, one cannot ignore such an invention of our scientists as. These are polymer granules that absorb a lot of moisture, and then, gradually, in doses, give it to the roots of plants. Hydrogel granules can be bought at the store today. The only thing is that the plants must be in advance transplanted into such a substance. You soak them in water for 6-8 hours, when they swell, plant them. The flowers won't dry out, they won't rot. The best method for growing flowers in hydroponics! By the way,

If you are going on vacation and rejoice in the upcoming pleasant days, then your indoor flowers are unlikely to rejoice the same way as you, because they will face hard trials and suffering from thirst! Therefore, take care of their well-being in advance.

Of course, you can ask relatives or neighbors to look after the plants. But what if you don't have any? Then let's resort to the automatic watering system! There are many ways to save plants.

But first you need to prepare the flowers for your departure:

1. Remove the flowers from the windowsill or close the curtains more tightly. The less light, the slower the life processes in plants, which means they will need less moisture.

2. Water the soil well so that it is saturated with water. The pot can be wrapped with a damp newspaper, and on top also with cellophane. This will reduce moisture loss.

3. Small plants should be covered with plastic or glass caps, bottles, but so that they let air through from below. Evaporating water will condense on the walls and drain back into the ground.

4. 5-7 days before departure, carefully check if the plants are affected by pests and diseases. Remove from the plant all dried and disease-damaged shoots and leaves, as well as large buds and flowers. Treat diseased plants with the appropriate preparations.

5. It is better to cut off too large leaves.

6. Plants should be placed in a lit place, but not in the sun.

7. Close both doors and windows so that there are no drafts in the room where the plants will remain.

8. 2-3 weeks before departure, stop all types of top dressing.

9. If you leave the plants in a tray of water, place the flower pots on a raised rock or wooden coasters so that their roots do not freeze.

10. Flowers in ceramic pots tolerate "separation" better than those that live in plastic containers.

The simplest and most commonplace ways to maintain soil moisture.

• For plants in clay pots. If you keep houseplants in clay pots, then each pot can be wrapped with moss - both the moss and the plant are abundantly moistened. If there is no moss nearby, place the clay pot in a larger container. Expanded clay should be poured at the bottom, and the gap between the walls of the container should be filled with the same expanded clay. This will maintain a more or less constant soil moisture. Upper layer earth in a pot or container can also be sprinkled with expanded clay, it will prevent drying out.

• This method is effective if the plants are left for 7-10 days.

• Drip irrigation. A plastic bottle is taken, depending on the volume of the pot, filled with water, a small hole is made in the cork (with a hot gypsy needle), you pre-water the flowers and stick the bottles into them with the cork down. As the soil dries, the flower will absorb water from the bottle.It is not bad to fix it on both sides with chopsticks (for example, from ice cream).
• Such a dropper is valid for 5-7 days. Several bottles are placed in large flowerpots and the stock will last longer.

Watering through the "wick". It can be ropes, laces, woolen threads of different diameters, twisted bandages, and so on. One end of the wick must be lowered into a container of water (for example, a basin), and the other end must be attached to a pot (for reliability, it will need to be fixed, for example, with a peg). Water will flow to the flowers due to the difference in capillary pressure.

One 10 l container is enough for 7 days for 6-7 plants

Moisture-loving plants can be placed on pallets, deep trays or in wide basins of water so that the lower part of the pot is in the water. PThe top of the soil is covered with wet moss or expanded clay.

Hydration through fabric. Lay on kitchen table oilcloth film (you can also place the pots in the bathroom if the plants are not whimsical to light), lay a fabric soaked in water (cloth, felt, an old baby blanket folded in several layers of batting) on ​​the oilcloth. Place pots with already watered plants on the fabric, dip the end of the fabric into a container of water. Pots should have drainage holes, saucers are not needed.

This method is suitable for a period of 10-20 days.

Watering through the "wick" at the bottom of the pot. You will need your flower pot and another container to put under the pot. Make holes in the pot and thread the string as shown in the picture. Place a pot on a vessel with water so that the end of the rope falls into the water. Water along the rope will rise up and moisten the ground.

DFor a pot with a diameter of 10 cm, one wick is enough, and for a pot with a diameter of 25-30 cm, 3-4 wicks are needed for an adequate supply of water.

Today, almost according to the same principle, all sorts of "soil moistening" systems work.

Let's say system Archimedes, which consists of a glass flask - a water tank - and a ceramic cone that is immersed in the ground. Water oozes through the capillary-porous ceramic walls drop by drop and constantly moistens the soil. You will have to put several of them in a balcony box or a large pot, of course. It looks very cute, by the way! From an aesthetic point of view, this is perhaps the most glorious option. They cost about 180 rubles a piece.
A cone in a flower pot is enough for 5-7 days

Or here - cones Blumat, only in addition to the cone, some kind of remote container with water is also required. The cone itself is installed in a pot, and the tip of the hose with a weighting agent is lowered into a container of water. These devices draw water "on demand" - when the soil in the pot dries out, the cone gradually releases water to the surrounding earth. The inconvenience is that the water container should be higher or at least on the same level as the pots. You don't always get along, to be honest. Well, the price is not very happy - about 4 thousand for 25 cones.

Auto irrigation systems. Remember that all of the above methods are designed for a maximum of three to four weeks of your absence. If you have to leave for more long term, here you can’t do without complex store-bought automatic watering systems.

The most popular item is gardena, which is capable of watering, according to the manufacturer, up to 36 plants at the same time. Sold in OBI and other large shopping malls. The kit includes a pump with a filter, a transformer with a timer to power the pump, a supply hose, three distributors (each with 12 outlets), a capillary hose, holding pegs, end caps and plastic container for water, 9 liters.

One or more branches can be connected to each plant - find out right amount will have to be experienced. If, for example, 60 ml of water per day is not enough for plants in a large container (namely, that much has time to flow out in a minute), the amount of moisture supplied will have to be increased by installing additional capillary tubes. The hose is attached to the pump, the pump is immersed in the above tank, the system starts to work.
If the water in the tank suddenly runs out, the pump will turn off automatically, and when water is added, it will continue to function. Disadvantage - requires an outlet to which the system will be connected. It costs from 3 thousand rubles per set

Do you know?

... that tradescantia, begonia, dracaena easily tolerate a temporary lack of moisture (up to 7 days)

... that aloe, agave, euphorbia comb well tolerate temporary "droughts" and love sunlight, so it is better to leave them in a room on the windowsill, having previously watered well.

... that palm trees and ficuses that live on the balcony are better to bring into the room during the holidays. They are also unpretentious to moisture, but they can get sick in three weeks of your absence.

Taken from: http://jenskiymir.com/blog/43655947575/Kak-sohranit-komnatnyie-tsvetyi,-uezzhaya-v-otpusk!?utm_campaign=transit&utm_source=main&utm_medium=page_1&pad=1

Preparing plants for vacation

There are two weeks left before departure. Completely stop feeding plants with various additives. This will help your indoor flowers slow down their rapid growth, and, therefore, reduce the appetite and need for your presence.

There are 7-10 days left before departure. Remove all affected and diseased leaves, shoots, buds. If necessary, treat diseased plants with medicinal preparations, and healthy ones for prevention with herbal infusions.

Three days left before departure. Cut buds and flowers without regret. You still won’t be able to admire them, and this will significantly save the plant’s strength and resources.

The day before the trip. Water and wash each plant, put all flowerpots on the floor, away from the scorching sun. In this case, the rule “together is more fun” works: place the pots as close as possible to each other in order to keep the humidity of the air longer. You can build a polyethylene cap on top, but be careful: plants with succulent leaves can rot, become moldy.

Flowers during the holidays - care

Consider the option in which a nanny for your flowers could not be found. So, how to provide flowers with watering without your participation? In this case, preventive measures are taken.

Method 1. All plants in clay pots can be buried shallowly in peat or expanded clay. To do this, you can use old basins and even a bath. Peat or expanded clay should be well watered, watered separately and each flower.

Method 2. Put pots with flowers that are in great need of regular watering in a container of water (basins, bath), but remember that for some flowers, waterlogging is just as harmful as drought.

Method 3. My mom did in the following way: all the flowers were put in one place on the floor, between them on a stool, my mother put a large pot of water. Then we cut an ordinary bandage into long strips, each of which was dipped with one end into a pot of water, and the other into a flower pot. For large flowerpots, you need several of these strips.

Method 4. If there is no one to leave flowers for, my friend does this: she puts an ordinary dropper in each pot, which are sold in every pharmacy.

Method 5. The most reliable, but, alas, the most expensive way to save flowers for the holidays: buy special containers with an automatic watering system. Another option is capillary mats. These are special such rugs that work on the principle of the bandage method (see above). By the way, instead of capillary mats, you can use ordinary felt.

What plants will survive without watering? There are also such "persistent tin soldiers":

• cacti, aloe, cycads, spurges, which can go without watering for up to three weeks;