Include plants in vacation plans

Nancy O'Donnell, Albany Times Union

Saturday, July 14, 2007

It's vacation time, but the hanging basket your friend gave you is temperamental. Your window boxes face due west, and the afternoon summer sun can be brutal. The planters on your deck? What will they do without you? They'll survive just fine.

Here's a rundown on how to leave your plants behind when you take a vacation.

• Container gardens: Whenever possible, move window boxes and outdoor potted plants to a shady site, clustering them close together. This will keep them cooler (less direct sun) and slow evaporation of soil moisture by reducing air circulation. For ones that can't be moved, the best you can do is water them well, so the water freely drains out the bottom holes, then top dress the exposed soil with mulch to help retain moisture.

Hanging baskets also should be moved to the shade and placed on the ground or as close to ground level as you can safely do without harming the plant.

If nobody will be watering your plants while you're gone, consider using wicks. Make your own wicking system using an old blanket (not a sheet) torn into 2-inch wide strips, shoe laces, wicking material (available at garden centers) and a bucket filled with water. If using laces, nip the ends to remove the plastic tips. Wet the wick/strip/lace and carefully, with a knife, insert it down along the inside edge of the pot as close to the bottom as possible, place the other end into the bucket of water so it reaches the bottom and place a stone on top so it can't float up. Jumbo planters may require multiple wicks.

Always water plants thoroughly first and place the container of water next to the plant, slightly elevated.

• Houseplants: Water plants thoroughly the day before you leave and allow them to sit in their water-filled saucers (African violets and succulents, too) for about a half-hour to take full advantage of the soil's absorption power, but never leave them sitting in water while you're away. If you have a sunny bathroom, move your plants into the tub/shower, water thoroughly and immediately close the stall door to keep humidity in. The wicking method described above works well for houseplants, too.

Relocate out of sunny windows to places of bright, indirect light and group together, again for moisture conservation.

• Vegetable gardens: Enlist the help of family and friends to keep the plants harvested so they won't grow themselves into an early compost pile. To conserve soil moisture you should already have your garden mulched, so all that is left is to water thoroughly just before leaving.