For those who own household plants that cascade every room, when planning your summertime vacation, don’t forget to show them some love before you go.

No one wants to return from a long — or mini — vacation to find your precious cargo has been wilted or dried due to lack of proper sunlight or hydration. Home and garden experts say it’s imperative to keep your plants properly moistened to ensure no root rotting. Four Seasons Garden Center co-manager Rosalie Bjelke said there are several, simple things one can do to make sure plants remain vibrant when vacationing.

“Make sure to give plants proper light — light from windows or a lamp sometimes is not enough,” Bjelke said. “Natural light helps, leaving plants in a dark corner doesn’t … a good thorough soaking of soil would do better (than using water from a water bottle).”

Filling a bathtub with water to place indoor plants inside, Bjelke said, can also be helpful.

“A lot of times household plants don’t need as much water as outdoor plants,” Bjelke said. “Different plants have different water needs … it depends on the plant.”

And if you plan to travel for a week or more, Bjelke said there are other options.

“Get a neighbor to water plants for you,” Bjelke said. “Plants can’t go that long (without water).”

Home and garden writers Jill Leviticus and Demand Media give additional tips on how to keep your houseplants watered while on vacation.

Use a bathtub. Fill the bathtub with ¼ inch of water before adding plants. Put a layer of gravel or bricks on the bottom of the bathtub and place your plants on the bricks of gravel to allow maximum moisture to penetrate the bottom of the pot.

Put holes in the bottom of an empty water bottle. Make a few holes in the bottom of an empty plastic bottle with a nail and place the bottle on top of the soil in a pot. When the bottle is filled with water, the water will slowly drip in the soil. Vary the size of the bottles used depending on the size of the pots.

Make a temporary houseplant greenhouse. Construct a temporary houseplant greenhouse with a clear or white plastic bag. Water the plants thoroughly before placing the bags over the plants. Push bamboo stakes into the soil to serve as supports for the sides of the bags. The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service recommends punching a few holes in the bags to prevent fungus from developing.

Purchase a self-watering probe. Available at home improvement and gardening stores and provides plants with a continual source of water. Soak the wick or ceramic cone in water for at least fifteen minutes before inserting the probe into the soil. Place the probe’s flexible tubing in a container of water large enough to keep the plant moist while you are on vacation.

Use an automatic sprinkler system. Use a sprinkler and mini-soaker hose to water plants that can endure spending time outdoors. Attach the mini-soaker hose to the automatic sprinkler and position hose so that water drips into the pots.