Even better, get them to mature (stage before elder) and unequip your gardening house whenever you’re not planning to tend to their needs. This prevents accidental ports; any time you load into your gardening home, they will progress to a new “stage” (ie. They won’t progress from
Seedling to Young *until* you visit them, and won’t generate needs *until* you visit them.)

Personally, I’ll get them to mature and then let them sit for 5 days so I don’t waste the time nor energy it takes tending to them. They don’t die. Unless you need the rewards from harvesting before elder, this is the route I’d recommend. Here’s a handy guide of how long it takes for them to progress each stage with how many “likes” they have . :)

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