True. I wish there was another me around here to take care of them while I go away.

Most of my plants I don't worry about while I'm gone. Most are large and are suspended a few inches of their saucers so if they get too much or too little water, they're not affected. But I leave a sticky note on each with how often to water. Usually works fine.

I need get all the smaller ones spaced off their saucers. The small ones need water every other day and need to be able to fully drain.

Where again do you get that tree bark? Its been awhile and ive forgotten. Thats a great mix for any indoor plant, but outside it would be lightweight blowing over and drying out in a few hours in the summer, however.

I get the bark at Agway.

I agree for the little plant pictured above, without anchors and constant water it would have a hard time.

Though most of my plants are large that are in that mix. For instance, my ficus Benjamina is in an 18" terra cotta pot in the 5:1:1. It weighs around 100 lbs and gets water every couple days when in direct sun outside in the summer months.

ive had no issues with any plants blowing over (except for a storm last summer) or drying out in a couple hours and everything I grow is in this mix.

Glad you were able to bring your ficus back to health. I've never had anyone come take care of my plants (mostly various orchid species, but some house plants also) during vacations, and sometimes we would be gone for three weeks. Roughly a few days prior to leaving, sometimes a bit more if they were low water plants, I would water them well. Then the day before, I would prep them. The ones that needed moisture the most would get plastic bags wrapped around the pot, with tape closing the top most of the way, but allowing for gaps and air exchange. The ones that could tolerate a bit of drying, would get plastic cling wrap only on the top of the soil and containers, but the drainage holes would be free. Never lost a single plant due to our trips.

I wish I was able to do something like that and not have to rely on others.

Most are just too large for that kind of treatment though.

I doubt your plants are too large. Those inexpensive plastic drop cloths, used for painting, would take care of something the size of a mature oak tree. lol

With a 7' tall ficus in an 18" pot, it's just a lot easier to have someone come over and water.

It needs water every 3/4 days in the 5:1:1 mix so I really wouldn't be comfortable leaving it for a couple weeks no matter what.

I'd worry about mold growth too.

Update

Ficus 'Alii' are tough plants. My braided one has shed all of its leaves this past winter. This has been the second time it has done so. It did this several years ago, too. Now that it is warm and humid outside, it has started growing new leaves all over again as if nothing has happened. But just like any other houseplant, they don't like wet feet. This is why I grow mine in a self-watering container. Because even if the bottom reservoir is completely filled with water, most of the soil and its roots are kept above the water, where they are still able to breathe in the fresh air that they need. They're not sitting in the water, only the bottom "X" portion of the pot does; allowing it to wick up water as needed. During the summertime, though, it soaks up water like a sponge. Which is the other reason why I like using these self-watering containers.

Once it has had sufficient time to recover from being defoliated, I plan on doing a hard pruning to get back that bushy appearance again. It was getting to be too top heavy anyways. Last year, it seemed like I was constantly picking it back up, especially on windy days. I'd water the soil in order to give its container more weight, but as I said earlier, it would only soak it up like a sponge. I guess that's because I let it bake in that hot summer sun, lol. Just as long as I quench its thirst, it doesn't mind it one bit and grows like a weed.

This one sat in collected water in its saucer for two weeks when my girlfriends mother was watering. That was the issue.

Water just instantly flows through this fast draining 5:1:1 mix.

I now have it suspended in a vase so water that flows through will never be near the soil line.

I am leaving for Florida again next week, so I think the vase should solve the issues that arose last time.

Turning into a little tree. It only had 7-8 leaves in the first pic back in February. Most of which it shed anyway.

Just like nothing ever happened. Beautiful Ali.

Marvelous recovery, love your plant :)