How to Water Houseplants While on Vacation: A Checklist by Trip Length
Dewdrop guides · Discipline Labs
How long you’ll be gone decides almost everything. A long weekend needs almost nothing. Two weeks needs a plan. Use the section that matches your trip.
If your plants don’t yet have a regular rhythm, start with our plant watering schedule guide. Knowing each plant’s normal interval makes the decisions below much easier.
Before any trip: a 10-minute prep
- Water thoroughly 1 to 2 days before you leave. Water until it drains from the bottom, then empty the saucer. Don’t water so late that soil is still soggy when you walk out the door.
- Move plants out of direct sun. A bright south window dries soil fast. A spot with bright indirect light slows water loss.
- Group plants together. Clustered plants hold humidity a bit better and are easier for a sitter to find.
- Skip fertilizer. Hold off until you’re back.
- Check the forecast and thermostat. In summer, don’t let the house get hot. In winter, don’t let it get cold near windows.
Weekend (up to 3 or 4 days)
Do the prep and go. Most houseplants are fine, especially in winter. Dry-out plants such as succulents, snake plants and ZZ plants won’t notice. Only the thirstiest plants (ferns, calathea) might look sad, and they recover.
About a week
- Do the prep above.
- Move thirsty plants a few feet back from the window.
- Put a saucer with a little water under thirsty plants, or set small pots in a tray with a half-inch of water. Use the tray trick only for plants that like moist soil, and not for succulents or cacti.
- Everything else can wait.
Two weeks or more
Don’t rely on luck. Pick one:
- A plant sitter (best). Friend, neighbor or family member. Hand over the note below.
- Self-watering setups. Water spikes, wick systems or a water reservoir can buy extra days. Test whichever you use for a few days before you leave, so you know it doesn’t flood or run dry.
- Bottom soak right before leaving. Set the pot in a few inches of water for 20 to 30 minutes, then let it drain fully. Good for pots that can absorb water from below.
Avoid leaving plants sitting in standing water for long, since that causes root problems.
The plant sitter note (copy and paste)
Plants while I’m away, [dates]
• Check soil every [X] days: stick a finger in about an inch. Only water if it’s dry.
• Thirsty plants (ferns, peace lily): [list]. Water until a little drains out, then empty the saucer.
• Dry-out plants (succulents, snake plant, ZZ): [list]. Leave alone unless the soil is bone dry.
• If a plant is drooping and the soil is wet, don’t water. Text me.
• Please keep blinds [open/closed] and don’t move plants.
Using Dewdrop around a trip
Dewdrop has a vacation mode that pauses reminders, either indefinitely or until a date you pick, so your phone doesn’t nag you from a beach. Set the return date and reminders start again by themselves. You can log each watering with one tap on the notification. Everything works offline, with no account.
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Get Dewdrop on the App StoreQuick FAQ
Is it okay to water heavily right before leaving? Water well, but don’t leave soil soggy. Let the pot drain.
Do succulents need anything for two weeks? Usually not. Just move them out of harsh direct sun.
What if I come home to wilted plants? Check the soil. If it’s dry, water and give them a few days. If it’s wet, you probably overdid it, so wait.
Related: plant watering schedule · how often to water a snake plant · how often to water a pothos