Planning your summer getaway? Experts guarantee these 5 houseplants will survive not being watered while you're on vacation

Summer is in full swing and many of us will soon be jetting off to wild coastlines, sun-drenched mountains, or culture-filled city breaks. But for those plant parents with a host of indoor plants to care for, the pre-vacation excitement can be somewhat flattened by a feeling of guilt. It begs the question: will your indoor garden thrive, or even survive, while you’re away?

For those of us who travel often, it might feel like owning indoor plants is impractical. Happily, though, there are a plethora of easy indoor plants that will tolerate your wanderlust and thrive on minimal watering.

I asked houseplant experts for their take on the houseplants we should pick if we're keen to travel without the added twinge of guilt. Here, I uncover five suitable houseplants that don't need watering while you're on vacation.

5 indoor plants that will survive your vacation

Before diving into the list of houseplants that don't need watering while you're on vacation, I first asked houseplant guru Lisa Eldred Steinkopf what indoor plants should be avoided if we plan to be away.

'If I were away a lot, I would not have ferns, peace lilies, or orchids.' Lisa advises. 'Avoid any thin-leaved plant (they usually need water more often) or thirsty houseplants. If you have an orchid that is planted in moss, it may be fine for a few weeks. In bark, not so much.'

Houseplant expert Julie Bawden Davis agrees.

'Maidenhair fern and any ferns, as they require copious amounts of water and will quickly die if droughted. Two other plants that require a good deal of water are Monstera deliciosa and croton,' she explains.

So, that leaves those plants off the roster. Which indoor plants should we rather invest in?

1. Snake plant

One of the best and most attractive vacation-tolerant houseplants is a snake plant, also charmingly named 'Mother-in-Law's tongue.' With just some essential care, you can keep your snake plant happy for years.

'If you are going away, then a snake plant is a great choice,' says Julie. 'This plant used to be categorized as a succulent, but it was recategorized as a dracaena. This plant has thick leaves, and as such, can go long periods between watering,' she explains.

Snake plants can happily go two to three weeks without being watered, and they have the bonus of being one of the best air-cleaning indoor plants.

Shop for a snake plant at The Sill.

Julie Bawden Davis

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden author and University of California Certified Master Gardener, who has written several gardening books, including Indoor Gardening The Organic Way. In addition to running HealthyHouseplants.com, she shares indoor gardening advice on her YouTube channel @HealthyHouseplants.

2. Succulents and cacti

Unsurprisingly, succulents and cacti have made the list. Since they are desert dwellers, they are more than happy going three to four weeks without a drop of water.

'If you have the correct light for indoor succulents and cacti, they store water in their swollen stems and leaves, so they are a good choice for people who travel often,' explains Lisa.

'They like being allowed to dry out quite a bit before watering again, so if well-watered before you leave, they would be more than okay.'

Start your succulent collection off with this succulent mix from Walmart.

Lisa Eldred-Steinkopf

Lisa is a houseplant expert who runs her blog The Houseplant Guru with over a decade of professional experience at Steinkopf Nursery and Garden Center in Michigan. As a child, Lisa helped her grandma tend to African violets and other houseplants. Since then, Lisa has forged a career providing houseplant advice, holding lectures and writing for publications across the US. 

3. ZZ plant

Well known for being one of the most indestructible indoor plants, the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) can cope with minimal moisture, so it's ideal for irregular waterers and globetrotters.

It hails from the eastern coastal countries of Africa, so it is happy to be watered just once a month, since it is used to a seasonally dry environment.

A common issue is ZZ plants turning yellow, often caused by overwatering. Even though underwatering is never a good idea, you are far more likely to overwater than underwater this easygoing and optimistic houseplant.

ZZ plants are available to purchase at The Sill.

4. Aspidistra

Aspidistra, also known as the Cast Iron Plant, is a pot plant that thrives on neglect. Happily, they don't need their water levels monitored too closely, and ideally, you should let the soil dry out completely before watering them again.

It is well worth investing in a moisture meter, like this soil moisture meter from Amazon, to check if the soil is dry all the way down before giving it another drink.

If you return from a two to three week vacation, your aspiditra will look as though it barely even noticed your absence, and will even tolerate fluctuating light levels.

Find an aspidistra for your home at Walmart.

5. Ponytail palm

Ponytail palm trees are unflustered when left dry for several weeks, as befits their origins, since they are native to desert areas of south-eastern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.

Overwatering your ponytail palm is an extremely common indoor plant mistake, and ideally, you should wait four to six weeks in-between waterings.

With this in mind, if you're off for a month of sightseeing, your ponytail palm tree will likely benefit from your sabbatical.

Find a large ponytail palm at The Sill.

FAQs

How do I prepare my houseplants before my vacation?

Houseplant guru Lisa Eldred Steinkopf has some top tips for your houseplant happiness if you are planning your next globetrotting adventure:

'If you are leaving for an extended period, there are a few things to do for your plants. Move them out of the windows so they aren’t receiving as much light. The more light a plant has, the more water it needs because it is photosynthesizing more,' she explains.

'If they are heavy drinkers, you could cover them with a clear plastic bag. The more humid it is around a plant, the less water is used. This must be out of the sunlight, or you would bake your plant.'

How do I water my houseplants while I'm on vacation?

You could set up a wicking system while you are gone, like this wicking system available at Amazon.

'Put your plants by the sink with a string leading from the sink of water into the plant container, so it wicks water from the sink into the container,' explains houseplant guru, Lisa Eldred Steinkopf.

'You can use watering globes on many houseplants while you are on vacation,' notes houseplant expert, Julie Bawden Davis. Watering globes are a great and economical method of watering your plants while you're away. There are many to choose from, but these watering globes from Amazon are both effective and modestly priced.

With this line-up of houseplants that don't need watering while you're on vacation, you needn't bat an eyelid while you are sunning yourself in a faraway land this summer. If it would give you peace of mind, do ask a friend or neighbour to check in on your indoor garden once or twice. Though take heed of Lisa's advice:

'If you hire someone or ask a friend or family member to take care of your plants while you are gone, make sure they are familiar with plant care. If not, leave detailed cards next to each plant. Never assume everyone knows how to care for a plant.'

You could even run your trusted friend and family member through our list of habits every good plant parent has to increase your confidence in the fact your plants will be well cared for.