Home Gardening House Plants How to Water Your Plants When You Go Away Don't let your pothos prevent you from enjoying your vacation. By Katie Holdefehr Katie Holdefehr Instagram Website Katie Holdefehr is the associate editorial director at RealSimple.com. She was previously the senior home editor at the brand, covering everything home-related, from cleaning and organizing to decor and paint colors. Before joining Real Simple, she was an associate editor at Apartment Therapy. She also spent three years at Martha Stewart Living, where she wrote feature stories and assisted on photo shoots for the crafts department. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on July 31, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you're going away for a few nights or a few weeks, there's a way to keep your houseplants watered while you're away. Depending upon your level of dedication and how often you typically travel, you can invest in hydroponic planters, order an inexpensive watering globe, or try the DIY trick below. Whichever method you choose, you can enjoy your vacation (or work-cation) without worrying whether your snake plant will survive without you. And for extra-long trips? It may be time to call on that trusty neighbor. 5 Things You Should Always Do to Keep Your Home Safe Before You Go on Vacation Order a Watering Globe Rejuvenation For potted houseplants, an affordable watering globe will ensure their survival. Just fill the globe with water before you leave for your trip, and the end that's inserted into the potting soil will slowly hydrate the plant as the soil gets dry. Make Your Own DIY Watering Globe You can DIY your own watering globes using bottles found in your recycling bin. A small glass seltzer bottle is perfectly sized for tabletop plants, while a screw-top wine bottle will work for large, floor-standing plants. Fill a Bathtub or Sink Fill a Bathtub or Sink For trips of up to a week, begin by thoroughly watering plants. "Then place a towel at the bottom of a bathtub or a sink and fill with 2 inches of water," says Barbara Pleasant, author of The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual (Storey Books, bookshop.org). Sit the plants in the tub or the sink and they'll soak up the water. Invest in Hydroponic Planters West Elm Buy Now For those who go away often, hydroponic planters (or even a complete hydroponic garden) can be a worthwhile investment. These classic terracotta pots are encased in glass, creating a reservoir of water that will keep your plant hydrated, but without causing root rot. Choose from three different sizes for plants small and large. To buy: $34, westelm.com. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit