Help plants thrive even with just part-time care
If you’re anything like me, your plants shudder at the thought of living in or outside of your home. Even with my best intentions, I can’t seem to keep them alive. So for years, I stopped having any. I potted nothing. I planted nothing.
But I missed the warmth, beauty and atmosphere that plants provide. Having a living plant — growing, spreading, blooming — brings something special to a home and yard. It makes a home more homey. So I needed another approach. Something that felt fail-safe. Something that required little time and attention. Something that could almost keep itself alive.
Probably the same thing owners of vacation or weekend homes need.
When living at Smith Mountain Lake part-time or seasonally, homeowners can struggle with what types of plants are best or how to best take care of them when they can’t be there every day. That’s the kind of plant I need, too, so let’s explore the options.
Low-maintenance indoor plants
Water and light are the main ingredients for a happy, thriving plant. So if a plant has minimal need for both, that’s an ideal solution.
- Meet the ZZ Plant or Zamioculcas zamiifolia. From East Africa, this hardy plant is known for being indestructible as it tolerates low light, near-drought conditions and low humidity. The ZZ stores water in its thick stems and leaves, which means it can last three weeks between waterings.
- Say hello to the Snake Plant or Sansevieria. This baby is tough to kill. Native to West Africa, its stiff, sharp leaves are perfect for storing water, so it can last a month without a drink. It’s also known for purifying the air, but the plant can be toxic to dogs and cats.
- Send in the Pothos or Epipremnum aureum. This plant can handle such low amounts of light that it’s sometimes called “devil’s ivy” for its ability to survive near dark-out conditions. Only water it when the soil is dry, every two or more weeks, but keep Fluffy and Rover away from its toxic leaves.
Regardless of which plants you choose, give all of your indoor plants a watering before you leave, and make sure they’re positioned to get the sunlight they’ll need before you head out.
Low-maintenance outdoor plants
Outdoor plants need more considerations than just water and light, which depending on the time of year might naturally offer up too much or too little of both. You also need to think about insects, critters and deer. At the lake, top options include:
- Virginia Sweetspire – a semi-evergreen shrub that adapts to various soil conditions
- Dwarf fothergilla – a deer-resistant shrub that produces lovely flowers
- Coneflower or Black-eyed Susan – a native, hardy perennial (seeds are a favorite of goldfinch in winter)
For additional options, the Smith Mountain Lake Association has done a lot of legwork to provide recommendations for plants. Check out its website (smlassociation.org/recommended-plant-list/) for suggestions. You’ll find an extensive list of deer-resistant perennials, ground cover, large and small trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses that are recommended for the local climate.
Ways to make plants low-maintenance
If you already have plants that require TLC, with a little DIY spirit and creativity, you can make them less hands-on.
Try self-watering or wicking systems. Create self-watering indoor or outdoor pots by purchasing or making your own wicking system. You can turn nearly any plastic pot into a wicking pot with a few pipes, rocks and a strategically placed overflow pipe. This allows oxygen to penetrate the soil and creates a reservoir that waters the plant from the bottom of the pot up. Check out DIY videos on YouTube to give it a try. - Get a helping hand. Ask a year-round lake neighbor or hire a plant sitter to stop in every couple of weeks to water your plants. While there, they can pinch off dead leaves, rotate the plants for even sun exposure, give them a misting, and even share some friendly chit-chat. If you can’t find someone, you can always pack up your plants and take them with you to your primary home.
- Follow my lead. If you’re wondering what I did, I went the “easy” route with Easy Plant (easyplant.com). The company’s pots have built-in water reservoirs that self-water the plant. You fill up the reservoir and only refill it when it’s empty — usually once a month. You can search for plants that suit your needs or get recommendations. The plants ship to you already potted. All you do is open the box, which is the perfect solution for me! I have been the happy owner of an alive, thriving and growing ZZ Plant and Dracaena Janet Craig for the past 10 months!
Good luck and happy planting! ✦