Watering Houseplants During a 1–2 Month Absence

Wick Irrigation (Best DIY Method)

Push a fabric wick (cotton shoelace, nylon rope) through the drainage hole into the root ball.
Place the pot on a waterproof platform (inverted small pot) inside a reservoir (large plastic tub, cake box, or bathtub).
The wick dangles into the water reservoir.
Size the reservoir for the duration: larger reservoir = longer interval.

Sippers: Wick stilts that raise pots above a reservoir (for pots <8").
Sub-irrigated planters: Built-in reservoirs with wicks or vacuum sensors.
Water-absorbing polymers (Soil Absorb, Terrasorb): Mix into soil; may keep soil too wet for some plants and don't last 2 months.

Use light, porous potting mix (peat/perlite/bark) — heavy garden soil stays soggy.
Test the system weeks before departure.
Group plants with similar water needs.
This solves only watering; light, pests, temperature still need attention.

New Pro Corp (wicking materials): 1-800-869-9285. Sippers: 1-800-533-7661.

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