Sources: University of Illinois Extension, Houseplants care page (extension.illinois.edu/houseplants/care), checked 2026-10-14; UConn Home and Garden Education Center, Houseplant Watering Recommendations (homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu), checked 2026-10-13. How PotPal behaves is from version 1.3.5.
A checklist for the days before you go
- Open PotPal and look at each plant's next watering. It shows a range, so you can see which plants will fall due while you are away and which can wait.
- Check the soil of those plants. UConn's test is to push a finger about an inch into the mix. If it feels dry, water thoroughly; if it is still damp, wait.
- Water deeply on your last day if they are dry. UConn recommends watering until water drains from the holes and emptying the saucer within about an hour, so roots are not left standing in water.
- Choose a method for the gap. See the next section.
- Group plants if you can. The Illinois Extension care page says grouping plants improves the humidity immediately around them.
Covering the gap
| Method | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Clear plastic bag on a pebble tray | Illinois Extension suggests covering each plant with a clear plastic bag and standing it in a shallow pan with pebbles and water, which it says should be sufficient for 7 to 8 days |
| Someone checks on them | For longer trips Illinois Extension advises asking someone to check on the plants regularly |
| Group the plants | Plants grouped together raise the humidity around them, per Illinois Extension |
Both extension pages are general guidance for typical houseplants. Succulents and cacti, which can tolerate drier soil, may need less help than a fern.
What PotPal can and cannot do
- It shows when each plant is due, as a range, which makes the pre-trip check quick.
- Reminders are local notifications on your phone, so they will still arrive while you are away. If someone is looking after your plants, tell them yourself; PotPal does not send reminders to another person.
- There is no trip or pause mode in PotPal 1.3.5. If you want to silence reminders for a week, you will have to ignore them.
When you get back
Check the soil first rather than watering everything at once to make up for lost time. Tap I watered in PotPal for the plants you water so the next interval starts from the right day, and Not dry yet for any that are still damp.