PLANT CARE TIPS
Keeping houseplants alive can be hard, especially if you’re on the go traveling to who-knows-where for who knows how long. Here are some plants that can survive a traveler’s lifestyle and tips so that you never come to wilted leaves.
Anthurium plowmanii
Bird’s Nest Anthurium.
Grows in extremely dry conditions. Often the only evergreen plant in some areas during the dry season. Found in Brazil in the Amazonas region and in Peru at elevations ranging from 165 to almost 3,000 feet
Scindapsus pictus 'Argyraeus'
Silver Satin Pothos
Native to Southeast Asia, this ivy is versatile in the home. You can grow it in hanging baskets to trail down, let it climb a totem or trellis, or grow horizontally along a tabletop or mantle.
Beaucarnea recurvata
Ponytail Palm
The Ponytail Palm has a unique feature in the swollen base of the trunk, which is where it stores a reserve of water making it highly tolerant to drought. The texture of the trunk looks and feels like an elephant’s foot from which clusters of long strap-like leaves arch and droop gracefully from the trunk giving the impression of a tropical palm.
Sansevieria trifasciata
Snake Plant
Snake plants could be the most tolerant houseplant available. They can survive weeks of neglect while still looking fresh. They require very little light and water and rarely have insect problems. A NASA study concluded that snake plants increase indoor air quality by removing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene.
General Care Guidelines
Choose drought-tolerant plants
Select plants that prefer less frequent watering and can tolerate dry intervals. These species are better suited to travel-heavy lifestyles and inconsistent care routines.
Maintain a stable indoor temperature
Keep your home between 60–75°F. Avoid turning off air conditioning during warmer months unless plants can be relocated to a cooler, shaded area such as a basement or interior room.
Reduce direct sun exposure
Move plants out of direct sunlight before leaving. Bright, indirect light is ideal. Areas without harsh shadows help slow soil evaporation and reduce stress.
Increase ambient humidity
Plants release moisture through transpiration. Grouping plants together helps maintain localized humidity. In winter, place pots on trays filled with pebbles and water to further support moisture levels.
Prune before departure
Remove dead leaves, spent blooms, and damaged stems. Clearing decaying plant matter reduces the risk of disease developing while plants are unattended.
Water thoroughly before leaving
Water plants until moisture drains through the bottom of the pot. This ensures even saturation and helps sustain plants during extended periods without care.
Succulents
This huge family of plants come in an almost unlimited selection of shapes, sizes, and colors and can survive on just a few drops of water to keep them in top form.
Cycas revoluta
Sago Palm
The Sago Palm, though it resembles a palm, is not a palm at all. A member of the cycad genus, these ancient plants dominated the terrain during the Mesozoic era over 150 million years ago. The durability of the Sago Palm is legendary. Not only did they outlive the dinosaurs, but they can often survive severely adverse forces of nature and oversights of mankind.