If you're heading back to your parents' house over Christmas or packing your bags for a beach getaway there can be a lot to organise.
The dog is coming with you, the fridge has been cleared out, but what about the house plants?
If you're abandoning them for a few weeks over summer, and don't have anyone to water them, don't fear.
Experts say there are things you can do ensure they survive in your absence.
Leave your plants hydrated
Horticulturalist Tamara Campbell is the owner of an indoor plant store in Naarm/Melbourne, which she leaves for two weeks over summer.
She says you should "start preparing [plants] and making sure that they're really hydrated before you go away".
Her prep is well under way already. Ms Campbell says she's been giving plants a "drench" by placing them in big containers, pouring water over them and leaving them to absorb it.
"Sometimes I'll leave it for two hours, sometimes I'll leave it overnight," depending on how thirsty the plant seems.
Ms Campbell checks that all her plants are hydrated in the weeks leading up and waters them again the day before locking up.
To check they're hydrated "stick your finger in the soil and feel that it's damp" and dehydrated plants will often have discoloured or limp leaves, she says.
This method gets her plants "through two weeks, regardless of how much heat we get".
Consider the pot and potting mix
Greg Moore is a senior research associate at the University of Melbourne with an interest in horticultural plant science, revegetation and ecology.
He says for plants to last a while without care it's important to ensure they are in an appropriate size of pot.
If a plant is in a pot that's too small, Dr Moore says, "you have a supply and demand situation" where the plant needs more water than the amount of soil can hold, and a small pot can also get very warm quickly making the plant thirstier.
If your plants need , you could also consider , which use a wicking system to provide water to plants' roots so you don't have to water as often. However, be aware they are not ideal for all types of plants.
Group plants together and relocate
One of the steps, Ms Campbell says, she would do at home is "putting all of my plants together."
She says this helps increase humidity and then the plants use less water.
"The other thing I will do, is I will move my plants away from the light."
A lower light environment will also help them use less water, Ms Campbell says, and with the sun often in excess supply over January and December a little time away from direct light "isn't going to hurt".
Dr Moore also suggests moving plants so they can't be burnt by sunlight.
For some plants moving them outdoors might even be a "gentler" option, especially if your home gets really hot or humid.
"Most of the indoor plants will do okay over summer outside, as long as they're not in direct sun … and they're given some water."
Move plants into the bath for a holiday of their own
Dr Moore says you can move your plants into a bath or sink with some water if "you're not going to be away too long".
He says it's an option for trips of a week or less, but beyond about 10-14 days the plants could be damaged by sitting in water.
"Don't have the water too high," he says.
You could also water plants using a (natural fibre) yarn or string, Dr Moore says.
Place one end into a bowl or bucket of water and the other into the soil of the pot plant.
"It doesn't deliver too much water and so that normally works out quite well. I've used that hack myself, so it does work."
