One of the most common questions in relation to how to take care of plants when the holidays approach is how to give them away without having to resort to someone to do it for you. And the answer is simpler than you think. There are several homemade tricks that go wonderfully to keep them fresh and well hydrated for at least a week.
One of the most common questions in relation to how to take care of plants when the holidays approach is how to give them away without having to resort to someone to do it for you. And the answer is simpler than you think. There are several homemade tricks that go wonderfully to keep them fresh and well hydrated for at least a week.
The trick of the wine bottle to water the plants
The trick of the wine bottle to water the plants
The solution we are talking about is an idea of the specialist in household matters Julie Blanner, and consists of giving them drink little by little with the help of a bottle of wine and a cork. Yes, as is. To do this, you only need an empty wine bottle, a cork and a screw.
How to do it step by step
- Rinse the wine bottle well and fill it with water.
- Put a cork back in the neck of the bottle. If you find it difficult, you can trim the outline of one of the ends of the cork a little with the help of a knife. In this way, it enters more easily.
- Take a hand auger or screw; Screw it into the center of the cap, so that it creates a hole until it goes completely through; and if it is a screw, remove it again.
- Turn the bottle upside down and poke it lightly into the soil in the pot you want to water.
This will keep the soil moist for at least 3-4 days. and Then you can hold another 3 or 4 without watering.
The plastic bottle trick
The plastic bottle trick
The bottle trick is inspired by the classic plastic bottle, which consists of doing the same thing but with a bottle of mineral water to which the cap must be pierced in a few points with the help of a large needle or an awl . Then, it is put in the pot in the same way as the wine bottle and it slowly releases water.
- Its drawback is that it is made with disposable bottles, something that is better to avoid if you want to live without plastic, but it has the positive side that, at least, you reuse it before taking it to the recycling container; and that with several small bottles you can have several plants covered.
The twine trick
The twine trick
Another lifelong possibility is to place a basin of water next to the plants, and put a string of wool, cotton or other absorbent fabric that has one end in the water and the other in the ground.
- Thus, thanks to the capillarity of the water and the communicating vessels, the earth can absorb the moisture it needs.
What to do before going on vacation
What to do before going on vacation
Apart from giving them good gifts just before leaving (something basic if you want to take care of the plants so they don't die), there are other things you can do so that these days of absence do not require so much water.
- If they are indoor plants, group them all in the coolest part of the house and without direct sun.
- If they are outdoor plants and can be moved, put them together in the shadiest spot on the balcony or terrace.
- And whatever type they are, place the small ones under the larger ones.
This way you create a microclimate with more humidity and they protect each other.
