Planning a holiday, whilst exciting, inevitably comes with a to-do list of vital home checks that you need to conduct before you leave; make sure the doors are locked and secure, clean the final dirty dishes in the sink, check that your plant wall is ready to be left to its own devices for a number of days, or even weeks.
For many, this is not a concern, but for those who have invested time in keeping their plant wall alive and happy, taking your eye off it for an extended period of time can feel daunting. Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your mind stays firmly on your holiday and not on the plants you left behind, and Walls of Plants have buckets of advice to put your mind at ease.
Time your holiday well
Although houseplants are likely to need a little maintenance here and there at all times of the year, they most definitely need more attention in the spring and summer. Plants get a lot less needy during autumn/winter because they don’t need watering as often.
If you have placed your plant wall in a well ventilated area where they have access to the natural light conditions most suitable for your choice of plants, then they should be able to survive for a couple of weeks during the later half of the year without much interference.
Get an auto-feeder
An even better option that would give you and your plants more security is to invest in a plant wall with an auto-feed water tank.
With this installed, you’ll know that your plants are being taken care of all year round, without you needing to interfere. So really, you only need someone coming in to make sure there are no signs of pests, and to wipe off the leaves.
Find a friend who can check on them
Just like you would with a pet, enlist a trusty friend to pop in every now and then to make sure your plants are still thriving.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they get houseplants is to believe that plant care boils down to just watering it every now and again. But, there’s so much more to plant care than keeping the soil hydrated. This is where you may need assistance.
If you are going on holiday for a couple of weeks, we would suggest giving someone you trust a little tick sheet of things to check maybe once whilst you’re away – but unless they’re a plant expert, tell them to stay away from the watering can because you have that covered!
Advise them on how to:
- Check for pests:
Tell them to have a quick look under the leaves and in the soil to make sure there are no pests on your plants. You could give them a list of what to check for, and a little note to explain what to do if they do find any signs of their presence. This could include wiping down the leaves, using natural pesticides or isolating the plant.
All being well, you shouldn’t have any infestations whilst you’re away, but you might find reassurance in having someone who can check just in case.
- Wipe away the dust:
It is even more important in autumn and winter that your plant’s leaves are free from dust so they can absorb every last ray of sunlight to keep them going.
When you’re not at home to keep constant ventilation, dust can settle quickly and you might want someone to check once a week that your leaves are clean. This is a really easy piece of maintenance that would be hard to mess up as long as they’re gentle, so you don’t need a green fingered expert to do it. Just make sure they know where the microfibre cloth is so they don’t cause any damage to the foliage.
- Check for mould and browning:
If you have healthy plants, then you only need to prune them every now and again, and a short holiday shouldn’t necessitate interference.
However, if you are leaving your plant to its own devices for a number of weeks, then it might be worth asking someone who is good with plants to check that there are no browning leaves or neglected branches.
Prune before you fly
Whenever you leave your plants for a few days to a few weeks, you should give them a once over before you go.
Make sure they are:
- Pruned and healthy
- Free of and protected from pests
- Connected to a functioning auto-feed water tank
- Have access to plenty of natural light
Stay calm when you get home
If you come home and your plants have signs of pests, mould, or neglect, don’t panic and be kind to them.
One of the worst things you can do when you get home from holiday is panic and accidentally overwater your plants, drench them in pesticides or over-trim the branches because they’re wilting.
Be gentle, and treat them how you normally would in these circumstances. They probably just need a little TLC and they’ll be back on track.
Choose low maintenance plants
If you’ve not bought your plant wall yet and are conducting research to determine whether it’s the right choice for you, then choosing low maintenance plants is definitely the best way to ensure your plants endure long holidays.
Take a look at our 5 Tips for Creating a Low Maintenance Green Space for more advice.
If you’re a regular holiday goer looking for a plant wall that will survive your trips abroad whilst remaining beautiful in your home, then look no further than Walls of Plants.
Our GreenWalls are designed for low-maintenance planting so that you can get the luxury look without the trouble. Our battery powered manual feed system is designed to automatically feed and water your plants, and our horticultural expert can advise you on the best low-maintenance plants and arrangements to keep both garden and gardener happy.
