Caring for House Plants While Away

To spend time with friends and family for the holidays, many of us must travel. Be sure to prepare house plants for your absence, either by having a friend come over or setting up a self-watering system. There are several do-it-yourself methods, and many garden centers sell self-watering products as well.

UF/IFAS Publications

• Babysitting Plants (PDF)
• Care of Plants in the Home

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Preparing Your Landscape for a Season Away

Other Sites

• Houseplants Will Still Need Water While You Vacation--K-State Research and Extension
• How to Institute Self-Watering--Colorado State University Extension
• Plant Care While You're Gone on Vacation--University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Plants Can Survive Your Holiday--University of Saskatchewan (Can.) Centre for Continuing & Distance Education
• Vacation and Summer Care for Houseplants--University of Illinois Extension
• Vacation Plant Care--Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center