Whenever plant lovers plan to be away from home, whether for the Eid holidays, an office trip or a few days' travel, they share one worry: who will look after the plants? Without regular watering, favourite plants can dry out quickly. But with a few simple techniques, much of a plant's water needs can be met even when you are not at home.

An automatic irrigation spike works well for delivering water to plants slowly. It is essentially a special tube to which a water-filled bottle can be attached. Fix the spike to the mouth of the bottle and push it into the soil in the pot. Then open the spike's control part so the water drips out drop by drop. Just like a saline drip, you can control how fast the water flows. Depending on the flow, a one-litre bottle can supply water for up to several hours. It essentially works on the drip irrigation method. These spikes are easily found at large nurseries or garden supply shops.

A very simple method is to use jute rope. You need a bucket and some jute rope. First put a bucket full of water beside the pot. Soak the rope, dip one end in the bucket and bury the other end a few inches into the pot soil. As the soil dries, water will move slowly through the rope into the pot. Check that the method is working before you leave, and use a large bucket if you will be away for a long time.

Large plastic bottles can be used to water several plants. Make small holes in the bottle's cap, fill it with water and set it upside down some way into the pot soil. Wet the soil first. As the soil starts to dry, water will seep slowly from the bottle into the soil, keeping the plant moist for several days.

On the day you leave, water the plants well. Then place all the pots together in a large plastic tray or bowl. Soak old newspapers in water, crumple them and arrange them around the pots. The wet paper helps hold moisture for a long time, so the pot soil will not dry out easily and the plants will stay fresh.

You can choose any one method depending on how long you will be away and the type of plant. It is best to test for a few days beforehand to see which method suits your plants best.

Another important point is not to leave plants in direct sun, as it dries out the soil quickly. Keep the pots where there is enough light but no harsh sunshine.

These methods can usually keep plants supplied with water for four to seven days. If you have to be away longer, the safest arrangement is to leave the plants in the care of a neighbour, friend or acquaintance.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.