Hints from Heloise

Dear Readers: If you are going to be away for a short time, you need to make plans to care for your houseplants before you go. Here’s how:

“Give them a good watering (but don’t drown them) right before you leave. During the summer or winter, do not turn your air conditioning or heating completely off. Instead, set it at a temperature where your plants survive.

“If there’s a natural light source like a window or skylight in your bathroom, put plants in the bathtub with several inches of water and cover each plant with a clear, plastic dry-cleaning bag to create a greenhouse or terrarium effect.

“With rare or costly plants, ask a neighbor or friend to look after them.

“For outdoor potted plants, set a couple in a large, plastic garbage bag and fill the bottom with water to keep them watered for up to a week. A child’s wading pool can accommodate more plants. – Heloise