Houseplants while you are away
How to prepare plants for a trip: move them out of the sun and group them, check drainage, stop feeding, test a watering method and leave instructions.

[ ] Work out how long each plant can cope
    Succulents manage a month, moisture-lovers a week. Plan around the most demanding, not the average.
[ ] Move them out of direct sun
    Less light and heat means less evaporation and no scorching. It works better than doubling the water.
[ ] Group the plants together
    Humidity holds around a group and each plant loses less. It also makes any watering setup simpler.
[ ] Stop feeding before you leave
    Feeding stimulates growth, and growth needs water that will not be there. Leave it until you return.
[ ] Do not repot or prune before a trip
    The plant needs energy to recover exactly when nobody is there to watch it.
[ ] Check drainage and empty the saucers
    An overwatered plant dies faster than a dry one. Standing water in a saucer becomes root rot in two weeks.
[ ] Water the day before, according to need
    Drenching \u201cto last\u201d does not work: the excess drains away or kills the roots. Water normally and let it drain.
[ ] Test any watering method in advance
    A bottle, a drip system, a wick, a tray of damp clay. Test two or three days ahead, not on departure day.
[ ] Make a mini greenhouse for humidity-lovers
    A clear bag over the pot, supported so it does not touch the leaves, and never in the sun. Only for plants that suit it.
[ ] Leave written instructions for whoever helps
    Which to water, how much, how often, which not to touch. \u201cWater the plants\u201d is the classic cause of drowned ones.
[ ] Label the pots for your helper
    A sticker with frequency and amount on each pot removes questions and mistakes better than any messages.
[ ] Check the plants for pests
    In two unattended weeks a small problem becomes a big one. Treat in advance rather than on your way out.
[ ] Think about the temperature in the flat
    An air conditioner switched off in summer and closed windows create heat no watering can offset.
[ ] Do not drench the plants when you return
    Assess them, water according to need and return them to light gradually. Sudden changes finish off a weakened plant.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/plants-vacation