Shh! You don't have to buy expensive gadgets to keep your potted plants alive while you're away. My baby herbs back home in Albuquerque are safe while I'm soaking up the sea mist and grassy hills on the Central Coast of California.
All you need are terra-cotta pots. Always buy terra-cotta for your plants - they're roots want to breathe! Plastic doesn't allow the soil to breathe on all sides. Since the terra is porous, all you have to do place the pots in containers of water and the soil will slowly draw in enough water through the terra-cotta walls. Your plants will get plenty of water to keep them alive. If you are going to be gone longer than a weekend, then cover the water to prevent it from evaporating. I used extra tupperware I had and free salad containers from the grocery store here.
Have fun on your trip! Here's a little magic from ours.
With love, Sarah