What are my options? Leaving my beloved plants!

[relaxationtime]

I have a huge balcony with about 12 pots of plants and flowers.

It's very sunny and warm (UK but south facing).

I need to water it all every day.

I'm going away for 2 weeks in August to look after my grandma.

What on earth can i do?! Will they all die? Is there any snazzy solution?

Thank you

No neighbours to help you out?

Unless we have a blast of heat while you're away I doubt any of your plants will die. I've been laid low with Covid for almost 2 weeks now with no chance of watering my pots and they seem to be surviving, just about.

Cut the end off some plastic bottles and stick them in the soil upside down. Fill them with water and it will gradually trickle into the pots. Depending on the size of the pots you might need large 5 litre bottles. Soak each plant over night in a big bucket of water before hand to make sure the soil is well saturated.
If you are comfortable with it there are pet sitting agencies who also water plants. Perhaps they could come to check after the first week?

If you put the pots in something deep then when you water them the water won't just flow away. Not ideal as the roots are then submerged/sodden, but it really reduces the need for watering.

Some buckets of water and the string trick?

Slow release water spikes or sit them in water for a bit before you go?

My partner is very private and doesn't like the idea of anyone being in our home. It's frustrating but I have to respect his wishes.

When I was ill over Easter and didn't water my plants for 4 days they all died. Honestly my balcony is a sauna.

I'll try to water bottle technique. Wonder if I can do a test run one week and see how they are 😆

Can you rig up a shade as well as a watering system?
Or bring them inside? Stand on a towel in the coolest part of the house, water well and they'll be fine.

Just a bucket and string feeding in? How does that work??

How big are the pots, could you take any of them to neighbours to look after?

When you were ill did your partner not water them?

Can you bring any of them inside? Cooler so they won't frazzle as much.

I put a towel in the bath and soak it with water and leave all the plants in there

Capillary action - like how plants draw water up from the soil. So full bucket of water and a length of soaking wet string. One end in plant pot the other end submerged in the bucket of water. Water flows along the string to water the plant.

@relaxationtime Here’s a picture. You may want to do a trial run to optimise the results!

Thank you all.

Does it not matter if they don't have sun for 2 weeks?

My bathroom is at the back and doesn't have windows.

Sorry for silly questions!

I'm going to test these methods thank you.

I'm so proud of how it looks now and my tomatoes are coming on amazingly! Don't want to let them die

Add a deep stone mulch to your pots, of you don't already have one. It will make a massive difference..I did this, and now need to water weekly not daily. You can also consider elho reservoir pots but they can be a little pricey.
Combining both will give you about 2-3 weeks grace in all but the hottest weather.

Also, get some cheap material to create shade if possible.

I live in Lancashire. My outside plants often get no sun for 2 weeks 😉

Shame about the lack of bathroom windows. Is there any non-carpeted floor away from the S-facing windows where you could put down a tarpaulin and stand them on that? (Carpet prob ok too, if you covered it in towels first)

I have laminate floor so fine to have in the lounge. We will have the blinds down though and the lounge is a sauna too! Basically it's all floor to ceiling windows.

What is deep stone mulch?

Thanks everyone. I'm so appreciative

When we go away we use an irrigation system that does a drip system with water (it’s also on a timer etc…)

Perfect it you have a tap somewhere.

I have a similar issue..roasting hot balcony, i erected a bit of a floaty shade which helped ( pegs and some big light scarves attached to my hanging baskets, they would waft about and create a bit of breeze, dunno how useful that is in your place mind) and had a solar powered mini fountain in a large bucket . Also had a tip off about someone using babies nappies, use the absorbent core and mix it into compost , it holds the water within the soil. Think it was garderners world on tv ? Yet to try it mind. Maybe do a test….
Best of luck !🌼

Also re bucket if water, you can buy a gel to mix it with that will make it last even longer (did that for some indoor plants).

Fir two weeks, you’ll need BIG buckets if the plants are quite big.

Have you got a bath ? Towel in the bottom, soaking wet, put the plants in.

I had my neighbours plants when they went away for 6 weeks , I didn't mind at all. Anyone you could ask?

Ask a gardener to move in. Apparently it is a thing now😀

There are watering systems you can buy. An alternative if your partner doesn’t want people in your home is that your plants could go to a neighbors for the duration you are away. Pay a small fee for them to be watered each day. Then no one comes into your place.