[UntitledNo4]

As someone with plants and with a friend who looks after them when we're away, I understand this completely.

Plants need a schedule to do well and some are very sensitive if they get too much or too little water too often or too late.

A two or three of our plants died while the friend was looking after them in the past due to under watering (and we were gone for only about a week every time). So last time when we came back we found most pots were flooded with water, which to most plants is just as bad as not being watered.

It's only now that I think about how this small favour we ask of our friend can be stressful to him.

[hvidgaard]

Education is key. Either find a friend that know how to care for plants, and teach them your plants needs, or find a friend that want to learn it. Watering plants can be the same as caring for someones cat. I mean this in the best way, because a plant is not something you can just water willy nilly and expect it to be fine, unless it's a hardy plant, in which case it'll survive a week without watering anyway.

[gknoy]

You could also leave instructions, just like you would for a cat: - water N times per day, use this cup to this measure. - check the soil; if it's moist, do/don't water (don't use these instructions, I have no clue about plants :))

[TeMPOraL]

I second this. Just help your friend help you.

[pluma]

How complex are your cats?

With mine it always boils down to

* feed half a can per cat twice a day

* $pickyCat prefers this stack of cans

* feed $lessPickyCat separate so he can't steal the other one's food

Unlike plants, cats don't randomly die because you fed them an hour late or because they had to skip a meal two days ago.

Dog people say cats are evil but some plants just seem to be intent on killing themselves.

[gknoy]

You're right -- the cats themselves are pretty durable (other than my ancient 18 year old Cat A). For me, the instructions are less for the cats themselves, as it is preventing the mess they will make at times.

- Refill all four water containers - Give them large, heavy dishes full of water because Cat A likes to Knock Shit Over to see if there's water in there. (My hardwood floor has a damaged section because of this: OK if cleaned up fast, not OK if left over the weekend in hot weather.) - Mix in treats so that cat A eats all of her food - Cats B and C like to eat Cat A's food, so feed her in a separate room, then open the door 5 minutes later.

[pluma]

Have you experimented with different brands for Cat A? Mixing in treats seems like the least healthy option long term. I've had good success with Applaws.

[UntitledNo4]

I guess you're right, and I did try to leave some instructions, but we have lots of plants and I didn't want it to become too complicated so I tried to group plants that need similar care together and highlight the sensitive ones.

I believe the friend is eager to learn and loves plants himself, but but maybe finding a friend who doesn't kill their own plants would be a good start...

[GuiA]

What plants die in under a week of slight negligence?

[King-Aaron]

The answer you're after is: "many"

[mcv]

But who would buy a plant like that?

I get liking plants, but I don't want their maintenance to be yet another painful chore. I want plants that survive no matter what I do. Fortunately, my plants seem to select themselves based on that criterium.

[scandinavegan]

I have an uncle who waters all his plants every Saturday. Those who survive stay, those who die are tossed. Survival of the fittest in action.

[UntitledNo4]

People who _really_ like plants? I am one, and I wouldn't even call myself a hobbyist, just a person who likes plants a lot and doesn't mind having a routine of caring for plants, it's not like it's very difficult: all plants are watered on the weekend, a few are watered once more during the week. Yes, it also involves knowing how much water, but it's pretty much the same all year round (unless there are a few exceptionally hot days in a row during summer, then a bit more).

[mcv]

I have a toddler who loves watering plants. I have no real control over how much water they get.

[UntitledNo4]

Why not get plants that love water? Papyrus is one that comes to mind...

[hrktb]

If you have this line of thinking I think you’ll already be looking at a watering system, or even simple pots with a water reserve. Your needs for friends looking after your plants will already be minimal, and be reduced to asking them to fill the tanks once every three or four weeks.

For me people who need to educate friends about how to deal with their plants are playing on a different field, in a different game altogether (and I’ll flat refuse to deal with kind of PITA)

[trentmb]

Hobbyists.

[UntitledNo4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_pudica is one example for a plant that has died after not being watered for a few days which let the soil dry. Over-watering would not do good either.

Sure, most plants will not die within a week, but a lot will suffer enough and will take months to recover.

[egeozcan]

It depends on not just the plant but also on the humidity, temperature, soil type, plant growth, sun exposure and many other things.

[thaumasiotes]

Nonlocal plants. Growing a banana in Thailand is a forgiving endeavor. Growing the same banana in Sweden is not.

[Beltiras]

There are banana growers in Iceland. A banana grown in Iceland costs about 500$ each.

[y4mi]

are you talking about the plant itself the massive trees that actually bear fruits?

because my banana plants are by far the most forgiving things i've got (i live in germany). They grow and multiply like crazy and you can never give them too much water.

Going away for two weeks in summer? there might be a little brown after you'll be back, but that hardly matters with the speed they grow.