How to water your plants when you go on holiday
For a few days in summer, watering your plants well before you leave and moving them away from direct sun is usually enough; if you’re away for more than a week, they need a water reserve such as capillary matting or a wick. For longer than a couple of weeks, ask someone to come in and water them.
Updated 12 October 2026. How we write these pages
How to get your plants ready before you leave
Indoors, lots of small pots
Capillary matting.
Lay it on the draining board or beside the bath with one end in a sink or bath full of water, then stand the pots on it and press them down a little. Water terracotta pots first so they start drawing water up from the mat.
Indoors, one large pot
A wick from a container of water.
Put a container full of water beside the plant and run a strip of capillary matting, or a cotton cord, from the water into the soil. Tuck it well into the pot so it doesn’t slip out.
On a terrace, a balcony or in a garden
In the shade, close together.
Move the pots to a spot sheltered from the afternoon sun and group them tightly, so they lose less water. Water them deeply before you leave and stand them on shallow saucers.
What your plants need, by how long you’re away
A few days
Water them well before you leave.
And move them to a cooler room, away from the brightest window, so the soil dries out more slowly.
More than a week
A water reserve.
Capillary matting for lots of small pots, a wick for one large pot. Cacti and succulents can do without.
More than a couple of weeks
Someone to come in and water.
A neighbour, friend or relative you trust.
Questions about plants while you’re on holiday
Can plants go a week without water?
Most houseplants cope with a few days. For a week in summer, water them well and move them away from the window; for longer, they need a water reserve. In winter they can usually go a week or two, as long as the house doesn’t get colder than they can take.
What do I do with my plants if I’m away for two weeks?
Set up a water reserve: capillary matting for small pots, a wick for large ones. Try it a few days before you go, to see whether it works for your plants. If you’re away for longer, ask someone to come in.
How do I protect outdoor pots from summer heat while I’m away?
Move them into the shade, out of the afternoon sun, and group them tightly. Water them deeply before you leave and stand them on shallow saucers, which hold a little water in reserve. If you’re away for more than a few days, ask someone to water them: in summer, plants in pots are the first to suffer.
Should I buy self-watering pots before I go away?
Only if you were planning to use them anyway. They’re made to be used all year, especially for plants that like their soil always moist, and repotting a plant just for a short holiday isn’t worth it.
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