for most plants, i would stick them inthe tub. we used to do that if we would be out of town for a while, and never lost a plant. now, we jsut get someone to run by the house and do it for us along with bring inthe mail and papers.

also, if you water them really well before you leave and put them somewhere that they do not get too strong sunlight nor any real moving air fromteh AC, they should be able to go a little longer without water.

I don't have any house plants now, but once I had a couple and used the rope trick. I used a very porus piece of rope to wick water into into the container. Can't remember all the particulars.

Not sure if you know anyone who works in a hospital but I have several empty IV bags and tubing that was going to be trash that I use for watering house plants when I am away. The tubing has a little roller ball on them to regulate the flow of water. They work great. Of course since I am the one who gets these from work I know the source. The bags are sterile and so is the tubing if used properly.

Whatever you do I would suggest lower the light and turn off the airconditioner. Someones bathtub suggestion sounds like a good way to do both. You don't say what you have but I've never had anything that would not survive nine days -- I do know of plants that would not.

if I turned off my airconditioner in the summer it would reach way over 100 degrees F in the house and the plants would dry up within about 1 day and fry! LOL