Vacation care?
I set up my blue oil fern, Beth in a self-watering setup last weekend - her pot rests in the opening of a small teapot with the space below as the water reservoir and then I popped a cotton wick into the bottom of the pot through a drainage hole. (I'll add a pic later, just heading to work and thinking about plants, lol.)
This plant has taken up nearly all the water already so I'm wondering if she'll end up being overwatered? Would it work better with an olla? No leaf loss surprisingly so maybe it likes this setup? I'm keeping a close eye on this.
Before the self-watering setup, Beth has been in a plastic pot with drainage and top dressing of damp moss. I try not to let the moss dry out which means misting it every two to three days but she's actually not too fussy about this as long as she gets watered weekly.
Also, when I first got her, I put her in a terrarium and she hated it so she's been free to roam the plant shelf ever since.
What else can I try to keep my little Beth happy while I'm away for two weeks?
TIA, #greggang!
#BlueOilFern #microsorumthailandicum #selfwateringplanter #olla #vacationplantcare #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantssavedmymentalhealth #ballondusoleil
This plant has taken up nearly all the water already so I'm wondering if she'll end up being overwatered? Would it work better with an olla? No leaf loss surprisingly so maybe it likes this setup? I'm keeping a close eye on this.
Before the self-watering setup, Beth has been in a plastic pot with drainage and top dressing of damp moss. I try not to let the moss dry out which means misting it every two to three days but she's actually not too fussy about this as long as she gets watered weekly.
Also, when I first got her, I put her in a terrarium and she hated it so she's been free to roam the plant shelf ever since.
What else can I try to keep my little Beth happy while I'm away for two weeks?
TIA, #greggang!
#BlueOilFern #microsorumthailandicum #selfwateringplanter #olla #vacationplantcare #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantssavedmymentalhealth #ballondusoleil
2ft to light, indirect
3” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 week ago
5
Best Answer
She will be overwatered if you leave her in the self watering pot. You may come home to root rot.
Since they are epiphytes they don't like to be wet.
Is there any chance you could get a neighbor to care for her?
If not I have a suggestion.
I know she wasn't happy in the terrarium but when enclosed they need less water. What if you enclosed a plant shelf creatively like with painters tape and Saran Wrap. To lock in some humidity so she'll be good without watering for a couple of weeks.
Then limit her light. Plants drink more the more they photosynthesize and grow. So you would be temporarily giving her a rest.
That way you could water her well before you leave and she should be fine for the 2 weeks.
Sometimes a little creativity goes a long way 🩷
Since they are epiphytes they don't like to be wet.
Is there any chance you could get a neighbor to care for her?
If not I have a suggestion.
I know she wasn't happy in the terrarium but when enclosed they need less water. What if you enclosed a plant shelf creatively like with painters tape and Saran Wrap. To lock in some humidity so she'll be good without watering for a couple of weeks.
Then limit her light. Plants drink more the more they photosynthesize and grow. So you would be temporarily giving her a rest.
That way you could water her well before you leave and she should be fine for the 2 weeks.
Sometimes a little creativity goes a long way 🩷
Hi Geraldine, have you ever tried an inverted bottle? I just got my first one to help me water some of mine while away- got them on Amazon for like $8? I started 2 to see how/if it would work- and it’s great! I can adjust how much water each plant gets, and they have not leaked one bit. I’ll add a photo. I filled each bottle and it’s been 6 days- 1 bottle is close to empty and the other is half full. 2 weeks is a long time and these plants thrive on consistency so she might get a little disrupted. I tried a terracotta Lola in one of them and as I added water- I watched it disappear into the plant- it was crazy. Anyway, I hope this helps.
@SillyPlantGirl hi Catherine! Thanks for the inverted bottle suggestion - I've tried them before for other plants and they did work out well. This plant might be too small though!
Thanks, Shannon! @SuperbRaspfern I'm considering bringing a few plants to my workplace - a coworker has already agreed to water my office plants (so a few more shouldnt make a difference, right?). I'll also be trying a makeshift enclosure for some of my other plants. 🤞
@ballondusoleil Right just sneak them right on in there! Perfect 🩷