Thanks for all the comments! Now to address them: 1. capillary matting I did not know this existed. I am looking into it, but it seems just putting everything in the bathtub with some water and covering with plastic may be easier. 2. small water pump How much did you pay for the pump? I can't imagine it's that cheap, and that's our goal: cheap cheap cheap. :) 3. inside + clear plastic + water well = may be ideal solution. I have sitting on our veranda a 5gal bucket (5gal seems to be enough for a week of absence: I don't even use but maybe 1/2gal per day when watering them), a 4ft tall table, a soaker hose, and a timer. I need to get a hose remnant today and can finish my contraption. That being said, no alterations have been done to any of these things yet, so if I get some comments pointing out this won't work at all (or I discover it doesn't tonight) then I can return everything no harm no foul (may keep the timer, though, because I love gadgetry). IF soaker hose doesn't work, I will put everything in the tub with a small layer of water and pray they live. Although really my prized things are the peppers, and they don't really need much water to survive, do they now? Again, thanks for the comments so far! (And curse Home Depot for not having flag emitters, which are apparently the type of emitters you need for low pressure drip irrigation systems�"this is the reason I've got a soaker hose now. Also it seems cheaper and since some plants are closer than 18" apart it seems better than emitters.)

I just returned from an 8 day trip and my vandas did well. I posted a thread here and got several suggestions. I watered (only the roots) then put the plants in large clear plastic bags. Brought the bags indoors, placed them away from the windows. Plants were fine when I unpacked them yesterday. These were not huge plants. I had other suggestions too. I'll bump up the post. Sheila :)

Hi Alba, I feel your pain, LOL...I am going to visit my Sister in Las Vegas in Oct and my poor Hoyas/Plants are at my DH's mercy. At least you have your Mom to water yours, I'll trade you, LOL... I love him dearly, but my DH is NOT a plant person, he doesn't know the difference between a Hoya and a Jade plant,you might say he is "BOTANICALLY CHALLENGED", LOL and I'm so so afraid what I will find when I get home. I'm already giving him some prep talk and mini lessons. All he says is, wait till it gets closer, I won't remember all that...I am doomed :o( just kidding, I think I will just call him every day and tell him exactly which ones need/not need watering. That might be the best way... My only advise to you is to tell your Mom to water the plants when they are mostly dry, except some of the ones that you know prefer a little more moist. I'm a Hoya newbie myself, only started January of this year...Good Luck!I'm sure your Mom will take great care of them, feel sorry for me instead, LOL... Enjoy your vacation!!

Vacations and healthy gardens are difficult to juggle without extensive "planning ahead". So for many, the vacation moves to non-gardening times of the year. That way you get the best of both. Planning ahead allows you to incorporate auto watering set-ups into your gardening; either someone to cover for you or auto water timers attached to in-place drip tape or soaker hose or even sprinklers. Even the most inexpensive auto-timer can take care of all but huge garden plots for you and when the garden is heavily mulched and deep watered from the beginning of the season, one week of no attention is no problem when it comes to water. Pests and disease issues can still run wild when there is no attention but the plants won't lack water. :) Dave