On 11/07/2011 09:39, john ryan wrote:
For someone who likes plants going around the house watering the pots is a
labour of love.

But trying to introduce someone who could well benefit from the peaceful
therapy of house plants, what would be the easiest way to minimize the plant
watering task until they get to love the plants?

Choose plants that will stand a fair amount of abuse or neglect?
And are sufficiently interesting/pretty to get some attention.
Zinnia's perhaps fit the bill although they will be short lived if they
do not get enough water and frazzle in the sun or get too much and rot.

Say, choose a specific day of the week and just fill up the plastic saucers
at the base of the plants?

That is a quick way to kill most house plants - they don't enjoy wet
feet much. Far better to water slowly from above until some water just
gets through the compost. Common orchids are relatively tolerant of
being neglected a bit which might be a better bet.

Regards,
Martin Brown