The Secrets for Keeping Plants Happy While Traveling (Part 2)
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The Secrets for Keeping Plants Happy While Traveling (Part 2)
I think it makes sense that I'm currently writing this article while sitting in an airport. I will most likely edit it and send it out from my hotel room later this week!
(Edit: This is precisely what happened. I'm currently in my hotel room about to finish this up, and I have full confidence my plants are back at home just chilling with no worry of dying lol)
Okay, now that that's out of the way... Welcome to Part 2 of keeping your plants alive while traveling!!! I hope you enjoyed the first part and were able to gain a few tips to help at some point in the future. All the advice I shared last time is helpful for short OR long trips if paired with what you learn in this one.
If you are traveling for a very long time, you will almost certainly need to combine what you learned in the last newsletter with a gadget or two from this one.
Let's get to it!
P.S. If you missed the first edition, here's the link :)
We will start with automatic watering devices, not to be confused with self-watering pots, which I will cover next!
There are many techniques and devices you can buy to help keep your plants happy when you are gone, and I will give my opinion on a few of them.
Disclaimer:
I am NOT associated with any of these products or companies. Although I will receive a small percentage of your purchase if bought through any of these links at no extra cost to you :)
Also, sorry for making you click twice to get to the Amazon page for the products. It is against Amazon's Terms and Conditions to post these links on a non-online source (which is what this is considered), so I need to link you to a tweet with the link instead. Weird, I know...
Automatic Watering Devices
Blumat Classic Plant Watering Stakes — twitter.com
The Blumat watering stakes are my favorite tool for long-term watering. I have tried a few different methods, and this one just works. You soak them in water for about 15 minutes uncapped; then, while still completely submerged, you pop on the cap to create an air-tight seal, stick it in the soil, and place the small white end of the hose in water.
The spikes are made of clay and slowly release water as the plant needs it. When water gets sucked through the clay, it creates a vacuum in the spike that forces the water up the tube. PHYSICS!
What's cool about this method is that it works as long as there is water left in whatever container you place the other end in. This means you can keep a plant alive for a VERY long time if you drastically increase the size of your water container. There is no possible clogging or anything that happens since the water gets pulled through the clay spikes.
This was the Amazon review that completely sold me on the effectiveness.
I use these every time I travel, and here is a tweet I wrote a while back showing what it looks like when used.
(You have to click on it to see the other photos. Sorry, I couldn't figure out how to show all of them with the tweet on here.)
Self Watering Spikes, Slow Release Control Valve Switch Automatic Irrigation Watering Drip System — twitter.com
These self-watering spikes are another option similar to the Blumat spikes above, but they are a little cheaper and easier to set up. You simply fill up a plastic water bottle and screw it into the spike. Then it's just gravity doing the work and slowly dripping into the soil.
It's a decent option for a shorter trip with a quick setup, but I don't think it would have the long-term ability the Blumat stakes have.
Pynqdfu 10 Pcs Clear Plant Watering Globes — twitter.com
I'm sure you've all seen these before. They work, and you can have decent success with them, although I would trust them more as a way to keep your plants watered if you are someone who forgets to water, instead of relying on them over a long trip. They certainly work, but the amount of water they hold is minimal, and they can get clogged if you aren't careful.
The watering globes are the cheapest and easiest option from the "drip type" waterers.
Automatic Watering System, Zollea Smart Auto Watering Device Drip Irrigation Kit for Potted Plants Indoor Self Watering Pump — twitter.com
I decided to toss this one in just for fun. I have actually never used an electric drip watering system, but I think it's a pretty cool idea. I looked around at a few different models, and they all have decent reviews, but I would love to hear from you if you have had success with one of these.
ORIMERC 50 feet 1/4 inch Self Watering Capillary Wick Cord — twitter.com
Another cheap and unique option. This is water wicking cord. The idea behind it is you can fill a bowl with water and then place one end of this in the bowl and the other in the soil of your pot, which will wick the moisture into the soil to water your plant.
You could easily cut the lengths you need to reach all your plants and bring them all back to a central location. I wouldn't try stretching it too far, but I'm sure it would work for a shelf with multiple plants or a crowded plant corner.
Self Watering Pots
If you weren't aware from some of my tweets, I am completely sold on self-watering pots. All of my pickiest plants end up in a self-watering pot if they become too dramatic because IT'S. JUST. SO. EASY.
If you read the thread I linked near the top with my Croton and the watering spikes; you see that I decided to keep them in full-time to keep my Croton happy. Well, EVENTUALLY, I just moved it to a self-watering pot where it's been growing like crazy. I got sick of coming home and seeing it drooping like this.....
My favorite self-watering pots are the Lechuza brand. They are sleek looking and work exceptionally well. Sadly, they are almost impossible to get right now, and that caused the price to skyrocket. Luckily, the technology isn't super complicated, and many other companies are starting to compete.
I linked a few different brands here to help with your selection. I hope you find a few cheap ones you like because they really are a game-changer. I just fill them up before I leave, and they will keep my plant happy for almost two weeks before needing to be filled again.
One thing to note is that these pots are best used with a mixture of pon instead of soil. Since the pots always keep the soil moist, a typical potting mix can cause root rot and attract pests. I linked the pon mixture at the bottom, but there are many cheap DIY pon mixes you can do yourself all over YouTube.
Self Watering Planter , FENGZHITAO Clear Plastic Automatic-Watering Planter — twitter.com
T4U Plastic Plant Pots for Indoor Plants - 7/6.5/6/5.5/5 Inch Self Watering Planter — twitter.com
"Gardenix Decor 7'' Self Watering planters for Indoor Plants — twitter.com
Lechuza Classico 21 LS Self Watering Planter — twitter.com
Lechuza Planting Substrate — twitter.com
The best potting mix for self-watering pots. It allows the roots to access the water without the risk of root rot or pests. Not sure why it's so expensive right now. I have bought it for only slightly more than normal soil.
Final Notes
If you plan on traveling soon, I hope these tips make you feel less nervous about coming home to a bunch of dead plants. I’m confident you will have no problem keeping your plants happy while you are gone. I travel a lot and manage to keep mine healthy and growing while I’m away, and I know you can too.
Thank you for reading my newsletter! I hope you enjoyed it and look forward to many more. I will be sending these out twice a month and may increase frequency based on feedback and engagement.
I would greatly appreciate sharing this with friends and family, or give me a shoutout on Twitter (@HobbyistPlant) and let me know you enjoyed it!
This Weeks Happy Planter Submission
Like many people during the first lockdown of 2020, I found myself utterly bored, banned from my usual non-work-related activities and the prospect of yet another day sat at home with little to talk about with my other half.
We were watching something on TV (Could have been Emmerdale farm could have been a 4-hour history on railway-based butty shops…who knows it was a blur for 6 months!) there was a scene in someone’s house and I noticed plants. Turning to my other half is said “Why don’t we have a single plant in this house”?...he grunted something or other back, but it was to late….I reached for the iPad!!
2 months later my house was proudly showing off 37 new green babies of all kinds of varieties, shapes, colours with matching overpriced pots (lets face it there wasn’t much else to spend money on!). Over the next few months, I had some success and some dismal failures. Used an app, read lots, and started to understand plant life, cycles of seasons and feeding/water regimens.
But for some reason, one plant had me hooked, right from the start. The shape of its leaves that open and close at night, its dainty little beautiful pinkish/white flowers…..The Oxalis Traingularis! (AKA the purple shamrock). But I couldn’t get hold of a plant for love nor money….and id never grown anything from seed/bulb!
12 months of different soil mixes, watering regimens, number of seeds in one pot, different types of the family I feel I’ve finally cracked it.
This is now my latest, grown from seed (and 12 months of tears, existential terror and singing cliff Richards greatest hits at it) and I love it!
What a story! Thanks for the submission by @BeYourOwnRainb1 :)
It sounds like you went through a lot of attempts to grow this. It looks incredible now, and I'm glad you figured it out!
That's All For Now!
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Talk soon! Feel free to enjoy my content on Twitter until the next newsletter :)
-Houseplant Hobbyist