Summer time is vacation time. Just make sure your holidaying doesn’t result in your plants drying up. Here’s what you can do to keep your houseplants healthy and green.

A week or so before your trip, monitor room temperature with a thermometer placed on the floor. Check frequently to determine fluctuations of temperature. Ideally temperature should be between low-to-mid 40s during the day, falling into the upper 30s at night. At this range, your plants will survive without extra care for a few weeks.

» Water all plants the day before you leave, whether they need it or not. Let the pots drain fully.

» Cover the floor of the room with newspapers and plastic and place all your plants together in the room.

» Open curtains, drapes or blinds to allow optimum light to enter the room. Make sure plants aren't in drafts.

» You can also use self-watering wicks available in most plant stores for watering.

» If you don't have a room for the plants, try leaving them in the tub. After soaking them good, cover them with a sheet of plastic and they'll survive for 2 weeks or longer.

» Keep the vents open in the bathroom so the room will remain cool and the heat won't dry the plants out.