SINGAPORE – The end of the year is when most people will go away on a holiday. It can be a stressful time for plant parents: Will their plants dry up while they are away?

It can be a real worry for high-rise gardeners who grow their plants in pots. The growing media in the containers can hold only a limited amount of water in the root zone.

Some may ask a family member or fellow gardening friend to help water the plants.

An online search will yield myriad ideas and contraptions that can be implemented at home to ensure the plants are hydrated. Some are very affordable and can be easily set up by home gardeners, while others can be expensive and a little complicated to install.

For me, the most straightforward way to ensure my plants is given water during my absence is to grow them in self-watering containers. Whether they are store-bought or homemade, they comprise the same components and work via the same principle.

A self-watering container is simple in its design. It essentially consists of two containers. An inner container holds the growing media and plant, and has drainage holes at its base. A piece of cloth or netting is placed over these holes to prevent growing media from falling out.

The outer container is a watertight one. Its main purpose is to be a reservoir that holds water in reserve for the plant. It can also play a decorative role – this can be seen in store-bought self-watering containers that come in a wide range of designs.