How to Water Houseplants While You're Away: Holiday Plant Care Guide

Going away should not mean spending your holiday wondering whether your houseplants are slowly wilting at home.

The good news is that most established houseplants can cope perfectly well with a short period without attention. The trick is not to water everything excessively before you leave, but to think about how quickly each plant normally dries out, how long you will be away and what the conditions in your home will be while you are gone.

A succulent sitting in a cool room may happily go considerably longer without water than a fern in a small pot beside a warm, sunny window. For longer trips, a slow-release watering system or a trusted plant-sitter can make all the difference.

Holiday Houseplant Care at a Glance

Should You Water Houseplants Before Going on Holiday?

Usually, yes – if the plant is due to be watered.

What you should not do is heavily water every plant simply because you are about to leave. Different plants have very different watering requirements and soaking already-moist compost can leave roots sitting wet for far longer than normal.

Check each plant before you go. For many leafy tropical houseplants, water thoroughly if the upper few centimetres of compost have dried, then allow all excess water to drain away before returning the plant to its decorative pot.

If the compost is still noticeably moist, the plant may not need another drink yet.

Cacti, succulents and plants such as ZZ plants generally tolerate a period of dryness much better and should not be soaked unnecessarily before you leave.

For more detail, read our complete guide to watering houseplants.

How Do You Keep Houseplants Watered While You're Away?

For a short break, normal watering before departure may be all that is required. For longer holidays – particularly during warm weather – there are several ways to provide additional water.

1. Use a Terracotta Watering Stake

A terracotta watering stake, sometimes called a plant watering spike, is one of the simplest solutions for an individual houseplant.

The porous terracotta stake sits in the compost and is connected to a water-filled wine bottle or standard plastic bottle. Water gradually passes through the terracotta into the surrounding compost rather than being delivered all at once.

Our Kikkerland Terracotta Watering Stake can provide water for up to two weeks, although the actual duration depends on the plant, pot size, compost, temperature and size of the bottle being used.

Always test a watering stake before you go away. Set it up several days beforehand and see how quickly your particular plant uses the water. This is much better than discovering after your holiday that the reservoir emptied in two days – or that the compost remained far wetter than expected.

2. Use an Olla for Slow-Release Watering

An olla works on a similar principle. These porous clay reservoirs are partially buried in the compost and filled with water. Moisture gradually passes through the clay into the surrounding growing medium.

Our Pepin Ollas hold 250ml and can provide slow-release watering for up to around a week, depending on the plant and conditions.

They are particularly useful as an everyday watering tool rather than something that only appears when you go on holiday, so you can already understand how quickly your own plant empties the reservoir before relying on it while you are away.

3. Try a Wick or Capillary Watering System

You do not necessarily need to buy anything. A simple wick system can allow a plant to draw water from a nearby reservoir.

One end of an absorbent wick sits securely in a container of water while the other makes contact with the plant's compost. Water moves gradually along the material as moisture is used.

Capillary matting can work on the same principle for a collection of smaller plants, with pots positioned on damp matting connected to a reservoir.

As with any unattended watering system, test it before relying on it. A wick that slips out of place or a reservoir that empties more quickly than expected is not much use once you are hundreds of miles away.

4. Ask Someone to Check Them

If you are going away for more than a couple of weeks, have an unusually thirsty plant collection or are travelling during very warm weather, a trusted friend, neighbour or plant-sitter is still difficult to beat.

Make their job easy. Group together plants that need checking, leave clear instructions and – most importantly – tell them not to water everything automatically.

A note saying “check every Sunday and water only if the top of the compost has dried” is much safer than “please water my plants once a week”.

Should You Move Houseplants Away From the Window Before a Holiday?

Sometimes – but don't put them in the dark.

A plant sitting directly beside hot glass in strong summer sunshine can dry considerably faster than the same plant positioned a little further into the room. Moving vulnerable plants slightly back from a very warm south- or west-facing window can therefore reduce water loss while you are away.

The aim is to find a slightly cooler position with good natural light, not to move every plant into a dark hallway for two weeks.

Plants that already live happily in gentle indirect light may not need to move at all.

Should You Group Houseplants Together While You're Away?

Grouping compatible plants together can be useful, particularly during warmer weather. It makes watering systems easier to manage and can create a slightly more humid microclimate around the foliage.

Do not, however, crowd plants tightly into a dark corner. They still need appropriate light and some air movement.

Grouping also has one disadvantage: if one plant has pests such as spider mites, mealybug or thrips, close neighbours make it easier for them to spread. Give your plants a quick pest check before gathering them together.

Do You Need to Worry About Humidity While You're Away?

For most houseplants, the priority while you are on holiday is making sure the roots have an appropriate supply of water and that the plant is not overheating.

Some tropical plants – including many ferns, Calatheas and other thin-leaved species – appreciate higher humidity, but there is no need to arrange for someone to mist the leaves every day while you are away.

If your home is naturally very dry, grouping humidity-loving plants together can help create a slightly more humid environment. A pebble tray containing water below the level of the plant pot can also be used, provided the pot itself is not left standing in water.

More importantly, avoid leaving humidity-loving plants immediately beside a radiator, heater or very hot sunny window.

What About Cacti and Succulents?

Do less.

Most desert cacti and succulents store water in their stems or leaves and are much better adapted to periods of drought than leafy tropical houseplants.

If the compost is still moist when you leave, do not water simply because you are going away. In many cases, particularly outside the main growing season, leaving a cactus or succulent dry is considerably safer than setting it up with a continuous watering system.

A terracotta watering stake or permanently wet capillary system is therefore generally not the right solution for drought-tolerant plants.

What About Houseplants in Winter?

Holiday watering is not just a summer issue – but plants usually use water much more slowly during the darker months.

Lower light levels and cooler temperatures generally mean slower growth and less water use. Many established houseplants can therefore go considerably longer between waterings in winter than they would during warm summer weather.

Check the compost before leaving rather than automatically watering everything.

If you are going away during winter, also consider temperature. Plants positioned immediately against cold window glass or in a room where the heating will be completely switched off may need to be moved somewhere with a more suitable minimum temperature.

Should You Use a Self-Watering Pot?

Self-watering pots can be excellent for plants that appreciate consistent moisture, but we would not recommend completely changing a plant's growing system the night before you leave.

Products such as the Pepin Paulita Self-Watering Pot use a built-in reservoir to give the plant access to water over a longer period. They work particularly well as a long-term way of growing suitable plants, because you become familiar with the plant's water use before relying on the reservoir while you're away.

If you are leaving tomorrow, use a watering method your plant is already accustomed to rather than carrying out a last-minute repot.

Check Your Plants Before You Leave

A little preparation can prevent problems developing while nobody is there to notice them.

• Check the compost and water plants according to their individual needs.
• Allow excess water to drain rather than leaving nursery pots standing in water.
• Check for pests, particularly underneath leaves and around new growth.
• Remove dead or badly damaged foliage.
• Move vulnerable plants away from very hot windows if necessary.
• Fill and test any watering reservoirs several days before departure.
• Keep cacti and succulents separate from plants receiving continuous moisture.

If you are unsure whether a plant actually needs water, a soil moisture meter can help you check what is happening deeper in the compost rather than judging from the surface alone.

What Should You Do With Your Houseplants When You Get Home?

Resist the temptation to immediately pour water into everything.

Check each plant individually. If the compost is still moist, leave it alone. If it has dried and the plant normally prefers more consistent moisture, water thoroughly and allow the excess to drain.

A plant that has wilted slightly does not necessarily need drastic treatment. Restore its normal watering routine, place it back in its usual conditions and give it time to recover.

Remove leaves that are completely dry or badly damaged, but do not worry about the odd cosmetic mark. Plants are remarkably resilient and will usually resume normal growth once their usual care routine returns.

Frequently Asked Questions About Watering Houseplants While Away

How long can houseplants survive without water?

There is no single answer. It depends on the plant, season, temperature, light, pot size and compost. Some thirsty tropical plants may begin to struggle within several days in warm conditions, while established succulents and cacti can often remain dry for considerably longer. Houseplants also generally use water more slowly during winter.

Can I leave my houseplants for a week?

Many established houseplants can cope with a week without attention if they are appropriately watered beforehand and are not sitting in unusually hot conditions. Plants that normally need consistently moist compost may benefit from a tested slow-release watering system.

How do I keep houseplants watered for two weeks?

For plants that need regular moisture, use a tested reservoir system such as a terracotta watering stake, capillary wick or another suitable self-watering system. For valuable, particularly thirsty or sensitive plants, asking someone to check them during the two weeks provides extra reassurance.

Should I water plants heavily before going on holiday?

Water thoroughly if the plant is ready to be watered, but do not soak already-wet compost simply because you are going away. Overwatering before a holiday can be just as damaging as allowing a plant to become too dry.

Should I move my houseplants into the shade while I'm away?

Move plants away from intense, hot sunlight if necessary, but do not put plants that require good light into a dark room. A slightly cooler position away from hot window glass is usually preferable to a major change in conditions.

Do watering spikes really work?

Porous terracotta watering stakes can gradually supply moisture from an attached water reservoir, but the rate varies according to the plant, compost and conditions. Test the system before travelling so you know approximately how quickly your plant uses the reservoir.

Should I use a watering spike for a cactus or succulent?

Usually not. Most desert cacti and succulents are adapted to periods of dryness and prefer their compost to dry between waterings. Continuous slow-release watering can keep the compost wetter than these plants require.

What if I am away for more than two weeks?

If you will be away for an extended period, particularly during summer, having a trusted person check your plants is the safest approach. Leave simple instructions based on checking the compost rather than asking them to water everything on a fixed schedule.

Holiday Plant Care: The Simple Version

If you're only away for a few days, don't overcomplicate it. Check your plants, water those that genuinely need it and move anything vulnerable away from intense heat.

For a week or two, consider a tested slow-release watering solution for thirsty plants. A terracotta watering stake or Pepin Olla can provide extra moisture while you're away, while drought-tolerant cacti and succulents may need little or no additional water.

For longer trips, a reliable human is still the best backup.

Whatever method you choose, the key is to test it before you travel. Plants have very different needs, and knowing how quickly your own plants use water is far more useful than following a fixed watering schedule.

Explore our indoor plant care collection for watering tools, plant food and other essentials, or visit our Edinburgh plant shop if you'd like help choosing the right solution for your plants before you travel.