It’s summer vacation time, but you’re dreading leaving your plants at home? Worry not!

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On behalf of all plant parents, we spoke to Annette Matthew from Thane, Maharashtra — a gardening expert — for tips on maintaining plants.

Annette, who has over 300 varieties of plants and a YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers, shares a few tips on watering plants while one is away from home. 1. Ask a friend to help. “Divide your plants into different categories based on their need for water. Separate them into plants that need water regularly, weekly and 2-3 times a week. This method will help those who offer to help you easily differentiate and water the plants accordingly,” she adds.

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2. Consider keeping your plants away from direct sunlight so that the soil remains moist for a longer time.

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3. “Take a plastic bottle, make small hopes with the help of a needle on its top and place it upside down in the pot in such a way that water slowly drips to the roots,” she shares.

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4. Turn a cotton cloth into a thin rope, placing one end in water and the other end in a plant pot to reach the roots, effectively retaining moisture. 5. “To avoid mosquitoes breeding in the water, spray a solution consisting of three percent hydrogen peroxide and three drops of dishwashing liquid mixed in water in the tub,” she advises.

6. Consider switching to a different potting mix. Adding cocopeat can help retain the moisture for longer periods.

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7. “Another effective method is mulching wherein the plants are to be watered well to add dry leaves or a wet cloth around the plant. Frequent watering is not required after implementing this method,” she says.

8. You can also opt for ready-made drip irrigation systems that come with a timer to water your plants. They can easily be purchased from Amazon and Flipkart.

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