When you're away on long business trips, how do you water and care for your houseplants and flowers at home?

When you go away for a long trip, watering your plants is not something you can treat with a one-size-fits-all approach; you need to respond flexibly based on each plant's characteristics, otherwise those plants that hate waterlogged soil will easily suffocate at the roots and die. Here I share 3 practical watering methods with everyone, with the key points as follows:

1. The deep-watering-once method

This method is extremely suitable for plant types with relatively thick roots and strong, tough vitality. Some plants in the Cactaceae (cactus) family and Agavaceae (agave) family, for example, have a strong water-storing capacity and drought tolerance of their own. Before you leave, use an ordinary watering can or similar tool to water thoroughly in one go, so the soil is fully moistened down to where the bottom roots can absorb the water. In this way, even if you are away from home for more than ten days, these plants can maintain their basic growth needs by relying on the water they store themselves plus the residual moisture in the soil. Moreover, even if they go through a brief dry spell, they can rely on their own regulatory mechanisms and will not suffer serious damage. However, note that the amount of water still needs to be judged comprehensively based on factors such as pot size, plant size and the soil's water-holding capacity, to avoid overwatering that causes root oxygen deprivation.

2. The automatic drip irrigation device method

For plants with a high water demand that are especially afraid of drought, such as begonias (Begonia), as well as some seedlings whose root systems have not yet fully developed and are not drought-tolerant, an automatic drip irrigation device becomes a lifesaver. To use it, first use a spray bottle or similar tool to add an appropriate amount of water so the soil surface is slightly moistened, then insert the automatic drip irrigation device into the soil. There are many kinds of automatic watering devices on the market, from simple capillary drip irrigators to electric smart drip irrigation systems. Based on my own experience, ordinary capillary drip irrigators are quite cost-effective and can meet basic needs. They can use the humidity difference between the soil and the air to slowly and continuously supply water to the plants, ensuring the plants will not wilt from lack of water while their owner is away. But during use, you need to adjust the drip rate in advance, setting it reasonably according to the plants' water needs and how long you will be away, and you should also keep an eye on the device's water storage capacity to prevent it from running dry midway.

3. The double-pot water storage method

There is a category of plants that is rather "fussy", afraid of both drought and waterlogging, such as Anthurium (laceleaf), Alocasia (elephant ear) and some Philodendron varieties. For them, the continuous dripping of an automatic drip irrigation device easily causes root suffocation, while the double-pot water storage method is a more ideal solution. Prepare a plastic outer pot slightly larger than the original flower pot, and place the pot with the plant in it. Pour an appropriate amount of water into the bottom of the outer pot, with the water level best kept from rising above the bottom of the inner pot. Through the natural evaporation of water vapor, the soil can slowly absorb moisture and stay moderately moist. This way you can both avoid root oxygen deprivation and rot caused by overwatering and prevent long periods of drought from harming the plants. When carrying out the double-pot water storage method, pay attention to changes in the water level inside the outer pot and replenish the water in time, and also make sure the environment has good ventilation to promote even release of water vapor.