How to keep plants green even without water for several days?Image Credit source: Getty Images
The process of growing a plant and taking care of it daily benefits our physical and mental health. When the plant grows, we also get attached to it, because we use not only our physical strength but also our emotions in taking care of the plant. The problem arises when no one stays in the house for several days, because if the moisture in the soil dries up completely, the plants start withering. There is no problem for 2-3 days, but if the plants do not get water for more than that, they can dry up. In this article, we will learn some ways by which your plants will remain healthy even when you are not at home for many days and do not take any care.
Many factors are involved in keeping the plants green like the type of soil in the pot, whether it is getting water daily or not. Whether there is nutrition in the soil or not. We cover these things in daily plant care, but when it comes to holidays, most of the people go on vacation with their family. In such a situation, know which tips to follow to maintain moisture in the soil of the pot so that the plants remain green.
give water before going out
Water your plants just before you have to go out. Whatever clay pots are there, keep them immersed in a deep tub, so that these pots absorb moisture well from outside and retain moisture inside. Just keep in mind that you should not give so much water that it gets accumulated in the roots. Go out only after checking the drainage system. You can place a rimmed plate or plastic lid at the bottom of each pot and fill it with water. This allows the soil to absorb water through the drainage holes in the pot.
mulch the soil
Mulching is the best way to maintain moisture in the pot soil for a long time. For this, first clean all the weeds from the soil of the pot. After this give enough water to the plant. Now leave a distance of 2-3 inches from the stem of the plant and make a layer of dry leaves, wood sawdust or straw on the remaining soil. This layer should be at least 3 inches thick. If you want, you can do mulching with coco peat, but first wash it thoroughly with 1-2 drops of water.
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pay attention to the light
If you have indoor plants, then it is obvious that they are protected from sunlight, but the plants which are outside, there is a great need to protect them from sunlight, because the soil dries up rapidly due to strong sunlight. For this, shift the pots before going out. Keep it in a place where there is light, but there is no strong sunlight. The pots which cannot be shifted. Arrange for shade there so that the plants do not get direct sunlight.
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This is how plants will get water themselves
To ensure that the plants get water on their own during your absence from home, wrap a cotton cloth like a rope and bury one end of it near the roots at a depth of at least 3 inches in the soil of the pot. After this, fill water in another vessel and keep it at a little height from the pot. Put the other end of the cloth rope in this vessel and press it with a small stone. The entire rope has to be thoroughly soaked in water beforehand. With this, the cotton cloth will act as a bridge for water. Now many DIY hacks are available online like self-irrigating plants through drip, which you can follow.
