Plant watering in Exeter
Professional plant watering services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30 mins per visit
Location
Exeter, Devon
Plants watered regularly while you're on holiday or away. Indoor plants, outdoor pots, hanging baskets - kept alive and thriving so you don't come home to a house full of dead foliage.
Don't Come Home to Plant Carnage
You're planning a two-week holiday and you're excited - except for one problem. What about your plants? Two weeks without water in summer and those house plants you've nurtured for years will be crispy brown sticks.
You could ask neighbours, but you hate imposing. Self-watering gadgets are hit-and-miss. So you either don't go, or you cross your fingers and hope for the best.
💡 Pro tip: Plants you've spent years growing can die in less than a week during hot weather. A watering service costs less than replacing mature plants from the garden centre.
Why Plants Die When You're Away
What happens without regular watering:
| ✅ Regular Watering Service | ❌ Left to Chance |
|---|---|
| Plants watered on schedule | Dried out completely or drowned |
| Thriving when you return | Dead or dying, recovery uncertain |
| Outdoor pots looking good | Hanging baskets beyond saving |
| Veg patch still producing | Tomatoes shrivelled, crops lost |
| Peace of mind on holiday | Worrying about plants the whole time |
What I'll Water
🌱 Common Plant Care
| Plant Location | Watering Needs | Typical Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| House plants (average) | Check soil moisture, water when top inch dry | Every 3-5 days |
| House plants (tropical) | Keep evenly moist, high humidity lovers | Every 2-3 days |
| House plants (succulents) | Water sparingly, let dry between watering | Weekly |
| Outdoor pots (summer) | Dry out quickly, especially terracotta | Daily in hot weather |
| Hanging baskets | Dry out fastest of all | Daily, sometimes twice |
| Vegetable patch | Consistent moisture for good crops | Every 2-3 days |
| Greenhouse plants | Hot environment, dry out fast | Daily in summer |
The Service
🔧 What Happens Each Visit
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Check all plants | Assess moisture levels, plant health |
| Water as needed | Each plant gets appropriate amount |
| Remove dead leaves | Tidy up, remove anything dying |
| Open/close blinds (optional) | Prevent burning or darkness |
| Send photos | Update you that everything's fine |
📦 You Get
- Plants kept alive and healthy
- Regular schedule while you're away
- Photo updates for peace of mind
- General plant tidying included
- House check as bonus security
Pricing
| Visit Frequency | Per Visit | Typical 2-Week Holiday Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Once or twice total (hardy plants) | £60 | £60-£120 |
| Every 3-4 days (most house plants) | £60 | £180 (3 visits) |
| Daily or every 2 days (summer pots) | £60 | £420-£840 |
Based on £60 per visit for up to 30 mins work. Most homes with average plant collections need visiting every 3-5 days.
💡 Cost-saving tip: Group plants together before you leave so watering is efficient. Put all house plants in the bathroom or kitchen (easier to water, naturally humid).
Perfect For...
✅ Summer holidays - outdoor pots dry out fast in heat
✅ House plant enthusiasts - you've invested time growing them
✅ Vegetable growers - crops need consistent watering
✅ Long business trips - away for weeks, plants need care
✅ Elderly relatives - you manage their house while they're away
✅ House sales - keeping property looking good during marketing
Why Choose Us for Plant watering in Exeter?
Regular watering schedule while you're away
Indoor and outdoor plants cared for
Dead leaves removed, general tidying
Photos sent so you know they're thriving
What to Expect
Step 1: Pre-Holiday Briefing
Before you go, I'll come round and you can show me what needs watering and how often. I'll make notes and work out a schedule.
Step 2: Regular Visits
I'll visit on the schedule we've agreed - every few days, daily, whatever your plants need. Water appropriately, tidy up any dead leaves.
Step 3: Updates
After each visit, I'll send you photos showing your plants are fine. One less thing to worry about while you're away.
🔧 DIY Tips
Can't afford a plant watering service? Here's how to prepare plants for your holiday:
🔧 Before you leave
For house plants:
- Water thoroughly the morning you leave
- Move away from windows (reduces water loss)
- Group together in bathroom or kitchen (higher humidity)
- Put pots in sink or bath with inch of water (capillary action keeps them moist)
- Consider wicking system: water reservoir with fabric strips to each pot
For outdoor pots:
- Move to shady spot if possible (reduces water loss)
- Deadhead all flowers (reduces plant stress)
- Add water-retaining gel to soil before you go
- Mulch the top of pots to reduce evaporation
- Group pots together (creates humid microclimate)
Self-watering options:
- Wine bottle spike systems (cheap, work for 3-5 days)
- Capillary matting under pots with reservoir
- Automatic irrigation timer on outside tap
- Self-watering pots (buy before you go)
⚠️ What doesn't work
- Asking neighbours (they forget or overwater)
- Leaving plants in saucers of water (root rot)
- Self-watering globes (only last a few days)
- Hoping for the best (plants will die)
💡 Pro tricks:
- Cut back house plants before you go (reduces water needs)
- Take cuttings of anything irreplaceable (insurance if parent plant dies)
- Water outdoor pots with ice cubes (melts slowly, deep watering)
- Miracle-Gro or plant food before you go (keeps them fed)
🌍 Long-term solution:
- Convert house plants to self-watering pots gradually
- Install automatic irrigation system for outdoor pots
- Choose drought-tolerant plants for pots (reduce watering needs)
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏠 House security bonus: Regular visits while you're away also mean your house looks occupied - lights adjusted, post collected, general presence. Bit of security as well as plant care.
Plant-specific needs? If you've got orchids, carnivorous plants, or anything particularly fussy, just brief me before you go. I'll follow your instructions.
Vegetables and produce? If anything's ready to pick while you're away, I'll harvest it so it doesn't go over. You can collect it when you're back or I'll leave it in your fridge.
Greenhouse or conservatory? These get ridiculously hot in summer - plants in there will definitely need regular watering, possibly daily.
Unexpected heatwave? If the weather turns really hot while you're away and your plants need extra visits, I'll contact you. Usually easier to add an extra visit than come home to dead plants.
Long-term arrangement? If you're away regularly or just hate plant maintenance, we can set up a regular schedule - weekly visits to keep everything thriving year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do plants need watering while I'm away?
Depends on the plants, time of year, and weather. Most house plants need watering every 3-5 days in summer, weekly in winter. Outdoor pots in summer might need daily watering. I'll assess your plants and work out the right schedule before you go.
Do I need to leave detailed instructions for each plant?
It helps, but I've kept enough plants alive to know the basics. If you've got anything particularly fussy or valuable, just let me know what it needs. Otherwise I'll water according to what each plant looks like it needs - dry soil gets water, damp soil doesn't.
Can you water outdoor plants as well as indoor ones?
Yes - hanging baskets, pots, planters, vegetable patches, whatever needs watering. Summer holidays are the worst time for outdoor pots - they can dry out completely in a couple of hot days.
Will you send updates so I know they're okay?
Yes - I'll send you photos after each visit so you can see your plants are still alive and thriving. Gives you peace of mind while you're away enjoying yourself.
What if I come back to find a plant has died anyway?
I'll do my best to keep everything alive, but sometimes plants die despite proper care (they're living things, not machines). I'll tell you if anything's struggling and do what I can to save it.
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