Traveling? How to Keep Indoor Plants Alive While You’re Away

Leaving your plants behind when you travel does not have to mean coming home to a graveyard of wilted leaves. The most reliable way to keep indoor plants alive while you are away is to water them thoroughly before you leave. Most healthy houseplants can survive 1 to 2 weeks without attention if these three steps are done correctly. 

How to Prepare Your Indoor Plants Before You Travel

Many indoor plants die because of an improper watering schedule. So, before going on a long trip, there are some tips to follow to ensure that your plants remain alive throughout your absence.

Give Every Plant a Deep Water Session

Water your plants thoroughly 24 hours before leaving. Let water run through the drainage holes so the entire root zone is saturated. 

Do not water right before you leave because soggy soil without air circulation can cause root rot.

Group Plants Together

Place your plants close to each other in a single location. Plants release moisture through their leaves in a process called transpiration. When you group these plants together, they create a microclimate with slightly higher humidity.

Move Plants Away From Windows

Direct sunlight increases soil temperature and speeds up evaporation. Before you leave, shift your plants back from south or west-facing windows.

DIY Method to Water Plants While You are Away

The Plastic Bottle Drip System

Fill a clean plastic bottle with water. Poke a small hole in the cap. Turn it upside down and push it into the soil. The bottle releases water slowly as the soil dries out. This method works well for medium to large pots.

The Cotton Wick Method

Run one end of a thick cotton rope into a jar of water and bury the other end in the soil. Water travels up through capillary action. 

Plastic Bag Wick

Fill a resealable bag with water, insert a fabric wick (like an old towel strip), seal it, and place the wick end in soil. This prevents leaks while providing steady moisture.

Caring for Indoor Hanging Plants Before You Leave 

Hanging plants are often the most neglected before a trip because they are out of eye level. But they are also among the most vulnerable. Their smaller pots dry out faster. 

Keeping hanging indoor plants alive while you travel means checking their soil first. Hanging plants often need watering more frequently than floor-level pots. 

String of pearls, pothos, and spider plants are among the most forgiving hanging varieties. However, if you are growing more delicate hanging plants like maidenhair ferns, arrange for someone to water them every 5 to 7 days. 

Tips to Take Care of Plants if You are Going on a Longer Trip

Pre-Trip Prep

Water deeply 1-2 days before leaving so excess water drains, then prune the dead parts of the plant to cut water needs. Group plants in a cool, shaded bathroom or tub away from direct sun.

Scale Up Waterers

Use multiple wicking ropes from a large elevated bucket reservoir for 3-4 weeks of drip feeding across pots. 

Have Some Backup Plans

Enlist a trusted friend or neighbor with simple instructions. Monitor the plants every 5-7 days.

Prepare a Plant Care Checklist Before Traveling

Assess Plant Needs: List each plant's normal watering frequency, light, and humidity requirements in the checklist.

Watering and Pruning: Deeply water all pots 1-2 days ahead, letting excess drain to avoid rot. Trim dead leaves.

Final Checks: Inspect for pests, test waterers, and photograph setups. Upon return, check the soil before watering.

What to Do When You Come Back?

When you return, do not immediately overwater out of guilt. Check the soil first properly. Press a finger two inches into the soil and water only if it feels dry. 

Pro Tip From Gulab.pk's Horticulturist:

Trim any dead or yellowing leaves. These draw energy from the plant without contributing to growth. If a plant looks severely stressed, move it to a bright spot.

Where to Get the Right Indoor Plants Online in Pakistan?

If you are looking to build a more resilient indoor garden before your next trip, Gulab.pk is Pakistan's most trusted online plant nursery.

Whether you need drought-tolerant succulents for worry-free travel periods or slow-release fertilizers that feed your plants while you are away, Gulab.pk has options for everyone.