Plant care when you're not there!

Are you also leaving for vacay? Check out our houseplant survival guide- not there, plant care

Making the Cut

Snip away dead, weak, or otherwise unhealthy foliage. Doing so will maximize a plant’s chances of keeping up the jive throughout seasonal transitions by avoiding wasting its energy on foliage that isn’t working as it should (photosynthesis-wise). Moreover, keeping a regular pruning routine will keep scraggly growth in check and ensure that your plant is prepared to evolve into its lushest and fullest self during the growing season!

A Note on Sunshine

When leaving for a vacation, you might be inclined to group plants and bring them closer to the window for more light. While this may seem amazing with regards to the base principles of photosynthesis and how it’s practically the reason your plants are alive in the first place, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. It’s like tanning for your plants, which can be especially detrimental with the scorching sun these days. 

It’s often best to keep plants in bright, indirect light. Leaving your houseplants under the sun’s full blast leaves them at risk for burning. Sun damage presents itself on a plant’s foliage through yellowing or scorched spots on the leaves. This can be corrected by moving the plant to a shadier location or having a translucent curtain in front of the window to diffuse the light. 

As a side note, remember to rotate your plants every week or two to make sure that all sides of the foliage get relatively the same amount of light. Otherwise, it can cause lopsidedness. Exactly how it sounds, it makes what should be a rounded, bushy plant sway to one side, creating an unattractive disproportionate appearance.

Drink Up 

Before your departure, give your plants a good drink to keep that hydration system on point to provide them with the best odds while you’re away. With longer days, increased temperatures, and plants being at their peak growth stage, adequate hydration is a must. 

However, be mindful that plants can have varying care requirements. For example, if you haven’t watered your drought-tolerant succulent in the last two weeks, do you really need to hydrate it before you leave? 

For tips on how to keep plants watered when you're away, check out the simple for highly effective water wick method.