Use a granular fertilizer for your garden and a liquid fertilizer for potted plants. You can also use organic matter to fertilize your plants, like manure or compost.

Be sure to trim only the very well-established plants in your garden.

Don’t leave the mulch in your garden untouched for more than a couple of weeks or it will introduce rot. Adding mulch in this way is a temporary measure for when you are on vacation only. Make your own mulch by shredding leaves, twigs, and other organic matter from your yard. Don’t forget to mulch your potted plants, too. Simply add layers of heavily watered peat moss to the pot. A moist rag wrapped loosely around the base of your plant also works.

Even a conscientious friend or neighbor who doesn’t have plant experience can help water your plants. Give them a full tour of the garden and show them what’s involved at least a week before you leave. It can help if you group plants with similar watering needs together. If you sitter is inexperienced, write down detailed instructions your plant sitter can refer to while you are gone You may want to monitor how much water each plant needs for a few weeks before you go. Then, leave specific watering instructions such as, “Give this plant 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) of water every Wednesday. ”

Insulate the plants even more by double potting them. Place each pot into a larger pot, then fill the space between them with soil or fine mulch.

Because the plants will release water and the excess will drip back down to feed their roots, your plants can live happily in their greenhouse for months. Remember to keep your mini-greenhouse out of direct sunlight or it will heat up your plants too much and could kill them.

The plant will take in water from the bottle as needed while you’re away. Depending on how much water the plant consumes, you can use this method for up to 1 week. For smaller pots, use smaller plastic bottles or cough syrup bottles.

You can find watering bulbs at your local gardening store or online. They can provide water to small plants for up to 2 weeks. To prevent the watering bulb from getting clogged with dirt, secure some cheesecloth on the tip with a small rubber band before you insert it into the soil. [9] X Research source

Be sure that your container is in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Standing water can attract various insects. If you will be gone for more than a week, spray the container with a plant-friendly mold and bug deterrent. Make your own by mixing 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup (240 ml) of water and 3 drops of dish soap. Spray the mixture on the container filled with water before you add your plants.

If your sprinkler system does not have a rain sensor, you may want to entrust a friend or neighbor to manually turn off the sprinkler system in case it rains while you are away. Otherwise, the sprinkler will still run when it’s raining and will overwater your plants.

Large bottles, bowls, or pails work well as containers. Insert 1 wick into every plant. You can use the same container of water for several nearby plants. Be sure your wicking system is working before you leave. Sometimes the wicks don’t work effectively and you’ll have to switch them out for new ones. Put the wicking system together and test it for at least a week before you leave. If you are having trouble getting the water to wick properly, try positioning the container of water higher than the plant and use a shorter wick. [13] X Research source Some plants, such as cactus or succulents, grow best when their soil dries out completely between waterings. Watering these plants with a wicking system is not recommended. [14] X Research source

Find self-watering pots in your local gardening store or online. Some self-watering pots also have an indicator that shows how much water is left in the reservoir so you know when you need to fill it up. [16] X Research source Self watering containers aren’t a good idea to use for plants that need to dry out between waterings, like cactus or succulents.

Use a rain gauge with your drip irrigation system when you leave for vacation. That way, if it rains your irrigation system won’t overwater your plants while you’re gone. [18] X Research source