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The Guardian
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
14 ways to keep your houseplants alive while you're on holiday (and how to revive them when you get back)
Summer holidays are a joy for us, but not always such a thrill for our houseplants. Few things are worse than returning home to discover a horticultural graveyard. Plants can survive unsupervised during the winter, but heatwaves, a lack of ventilation, and no one around to water mean summer holidays are a recipe for disaster. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. But fear not. A bit of planning and the right kit can make all the difference between a happy homecoming and a shrivelled mess. Whether you go full-tech or just trust in a good soak and a friend, there's a holiday plant-care method for every budget and plant. Regardless of how long you're going away for, here are some of the best tips and tricks to keep your houseplants alive, hydrated and happy in your absence. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best: ask a neighbour, family member or friend to look after your plants while you're away. Leave easy instructions and group plants that require similar care. It's a lot to expect someone to visit several times a week, but even one mid-holiday visit can make a huge difference. Or, as I'm doing with my neighbour, swap plant-sitting duties with a fellow plant lover: you water theirs, they water yours. Move your plants away from windows where they might be scorched by direct sunlight. Place them together on a table in a room that gets indirect light. This helps create a more humid microenvironment, which helps reduce water loss through evaporation and can prevent the plants from drying out. Try placing shallow trays filled with water and pebbles nearby to provide extra humidity and buy you a few extra days of grace. For extra moisture, soak your plants' soil in the bath or sink first and let it drain before grouping them. H&M watering globe £9.99 at H&M These elegant glass orbs are plant decor and a hydration device. They're filled with water and inserted into the soil to provide a slow, steady water supply. This will help maintain moisture levels while you're away. They're ideal for smaller potted plants or trailing varieties such as pothos and philodendron. Ensure they're securely in place and filled before you go. Terracotta watering spikes £7.99 at Crocus£25.99 for 10 at Amazon A more lo-fi version of the globe above, and a great way to recycle a used bottle. These terracotta cones slowly release water from an upturned wine or plastic bottle as the soil dries out. A great option for bigger houseplants that don't like to dry out completely. Willow plant parent sensor £63.99 at Willow For something more tech-savvy, this plant sensor connects to a hub using wifi (most use Bluetooth). It tracks soil moisture, temperature and light, and syncs with an app to give real-time care advice based on the specific plant you're monitoring. It allows you to keep a virtual eye on your plants, and if the levels get too low, you can always bribe a friend to pop over. Westland water-saving gel £6.49 at the Range£12.99 at B&Q Soak these in water to let them expand, then mix into your compost before you go. They'll release the water slowly as the soil dries. Especially useful for thirsty tropicals or ferns that throw a fit the moment they dry out. The downside? You'll be adding polymers to your soil, so it may not be ideal if you're aiming for a fully organic setup. Capillary matting sheet £3 for five sheets at B&Q£10.99 for a 5 x 5 x 50cm sheet at Amazon Lay this felt-like fabric across your kitchen countertop or table and dip one end into a container of water (such as your kitchen sink). Place your plants in their nursery pots on top. The mat draws up water as needed, letting multiple pots drink at their own pace. It's cheap, easy and a life-saver for grouped watering. Sturme self-watering indoor plant pots £15 for three at Amazon Self-watering glass planter £9.09 at Crocus£10.39 at Waitrose Orchid and bonsai self-watering pot £49.95 at John Lewis Balcony self-watering planter £60 at FlannelsFrom £60 at Fraser Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion A chic upgrade that does the hard work for you. These pots have a built-in reservoir and wick system, keeping roots hydrated without the risk of soggy soil. They look so good that I would be tempted to use them even when I'm not away. Plant straws £22 at London Terrariums If you want something stylish and reusable, plant straws are a modern take on the classic wick watering system. Handmade in Sweden, these use a cotton wick and aluminium straw to draw water from a nearby container into your plant's soil. Great for hard-to-reach plants, hanging pots or if you just want to avoid the DIY faff. They deliver consistent moisture for up to two weeks and look great doing it. Garden Gear Mighty Dripper £15.99 at Robert Dyas£15.99 at Amazon These reusable drip bags slowly release water over three to seven days and can be looped on to larger pots or hanging baskets. They are especially useful for thirsty outdoor pots or balcony jungle setups. No batteries, no fuss – just fill and go. Grow Gadgets moisture meter £29.99 at GroWell£29.99 at eBay Don't trust your watering instincts? I've got a gadget that could help. Stick this probe into the soil and it'll tell you exactly how wet or dry things are. Handy for pre-holiday checks or for leaving with a nervous plant-sitter. It's not glamorous, but loosely covering smaller plants with a clear plastic bag creates a mini greenhouse effect that locks in humidity. Just make sure the bag isn't touching the leaves and has a couple of small air holes. Never use this on succulents or cacti – they'll rot. Pianta grow light £57 at Grow Gang If you don't trust the unpredictability of natural light or your home doesn't get much of it, try a UV grow light. Relocate your plants to a cooler, shadier room and set a grow light on a timer for about eight to 10 hours a day. This one comes with a clip-on holder, making it easy to position above your plant shelf. Peace of mind that your plants are getting just enough light, without getting scorched to a crisp. Ready Steady Defend houseplant bug killer spray, 200ml £16.95 at Ready Steady Defend£18.91 at eBay Ready Steady Defend houseplant bug killer spray, 1l £14.55 at Amazon Warm weather = peak pest season. Before you leave, give your plants a light mist with a natural insecticide. When you get back, inspect for sticky leaves or fine webs – signs of mealybugs, aphids or spider mites. Neem oil or insecticidal soap will sort them quickly. Back from your trip? Check your plants for signs that they might have got too much sun. Look for scorched leaves, which may appear yellow or brown and feel dry or crispy. Snip off the damaged parts, move them to a shadier location, and mist them regularly to help them recover. Trim back any brown or mushy parts, check the roots (they should be white and firm), and give the soil a thorough soak. Then place it somewhere bright but not too sunny. Plants are tougher than they appear and can bounce back with some care and attention. Gynelle Leon is a houseplant expert, award-winning photographer, and a qualified therapist. She founded the cult plant shop Prick Ldn and now writes the Guardian's Houseplant Clinic column. A proud Virgo based in London, she's also an avid allotment owner and lover of self-development books
The Sun
30-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
A 5p hack has stopped slugs from ravaging my gorgeous hosta – it's grown huge & they've not eaten a leaf
A GARDENING fans has revealed the 5p hack she used to prevent slugs from ravaging her prized plants. With summer now almost upon us, and temperatures remaining high, gardeners may have noticed the pesky critters nibbling on plants and damaging greenery. 3 3 3 The unwelcome visitors love nibbling on tasty leaves and seedlings, and if you're not careful, could leave you with nothing come harvest season. 'The biggest concern is the emergence of young slugs,' Tom Clamp, head of technical at Doff Portland – a leading manufacturer of premium garden care products said. 'They're particularly hungry and are indiscriminate feeders, meaning they can quickly decimate tender crops like vegetable seedlings, strawberries and bedding plants while potatoes are also vulnerable.' The critters often feed at night, and can consume a whopping 40 times their body weight, often leaving a nasty surprise for gardeners in the morning. However, one gardening fan has shared a simple solution to keep them away from your plants. Posting to the Gardening tips and tricks Facebook, a public group with 21 thousand members, the plant lover beamed: "I've been using the garlic spray this year and so far so good." Attached to the post was a picture of her beloved hostas, looking completely intact and slug free. How to Make Garlic Spray To make your own homemade garlic spray, simply crush some garlic into a paste, and place it into a spray bottle with water. Then, spray it on to your precious plants, and wait for it to work its magic. The pungent odour released by garlic, keeps slugs away and also works for other pests like flies too. Gardeners stunned by £1.50 household item that banishes slugs overnight Garlic is super cheap, and you can pick a bulb up for around 50p, making each clove worth as little as 5p. Other gardening fans flooded the comments section of the post, to share their success with the hack. One person said: "It sure works mine were huge when I last did it." A second person said: "I distract slugs from my plants with cucumber slices dotted around and then go out collect them up and dispose them." Keep pests out all summer IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass. A third person said: "I need too try this my plants are eaten up." Another cheap hack you can use to keep slugs out of your garden is to plant daffodil bulbs, as the invertebrates are deterred by the flowers' alkaloid content. Plus, the stunning yellow petals brighten up your garden, with bulbs available to purchase for as little as £1. Gardeners have also been encouraged to bury empty glass bottles in their gardens, as this produces a humming sound that keeps slugs at bay. He told The Sun: 'People may be surprised to hear it, but beer is a really simple solution to a slug problem. It's also probably something you already have at home.'
