Leaving my orchids unattended... help! - Orchid Board

OrchidEye · #1 07-30-2008, 04:54 PM

Hello!

Unfortunately in about two weeks i'm going on vacation and have no one to take care of my orchids while i'm gone. I'm going to be gone for about a week and am worried about them because of the summer heat.

I have 8 orchids; 4 Phalaenopsis, an oncidium, and 3 dendrobiums. I keep them in two different windows of my apartment which they seem to get the perfect amount of sun. During the summer i have been watering them about once every 4-5 days depending on the weather. I also have rock trays underneath them that I usually keep filled with water to keep the humidity up for them. They usually dry out almost every other day.

Any ideas for me how I can keep my plants moist and happy while i'm gone?

Thanks!!!

Becca · #2 07-30-2008, 05:44 PM

Well I am going on vacation as well in about two weeks and I will be gone for around 8 days...and I have several orchids mounted. I thought of having a friend come in and water for me and I was going to have her come water with me a few times to get the hang of it...but that is a lot to ask of a non orchid person.....but it is one way to go. What I chose to do...was I contacted someone who I knew sold supplies...turns out she has a green house and is going to babysit my mounted orchids for me in her greenhouse...so I just have to pack up about 20 orchids a day or two before leaving and take them to her.....Hope this gives you some idea's!

Royal · #3 07-30-2008, 05:49 PM

Drench them well before you leave. Make sure the trays have lots of water. Move them to a shadier spot, away from drafts. They'll be fine.

dgenovese1 · #4 07-30-2008, 06:11 PM

Hey Orchid Eye,
I think that Becca's suggestion of finding an "Orchid Boarder" is one idea that might be useful for you if you have one or more in your area. There are lots where I live; usually an orchid nursery will supply this service. On the other hand, it could be easier and definitely less expensive to follow along the lines of Royal's suggestion. Water them well before you leave, and move them to a less sunny spot that has fewer drafts in your apartment. Remeber, although orchid blooms are usually delicate looking, the plants are quite tough, and it is beneficial to give them a good "hard drying" from time to time. In my opinion, they'll be fine if left unattended for the week you're gone.

RosieC · #5 07-30-2008, 06:23 PM

I've just left my three phals alone for a week (and very hot weather) with mixed results. Two were fine but one, which had been re-potted two months earlier is looking ill as per my post this evening.

In the past I've left them over a week easily with no problems. But this week has been very very hot for the UK and I'm not sure if the disturbed roots of one of them made it more susceptible to drying out.

cirillonb · #6 07-30-2008, 08:03 PM

I have the same problem. I was planning to move the window sill plants to the bathtub; water the mounted ones (3) in a plastic tub and leave them there with water on the bottom, again in the tub. I have a bunch on a table back from a window. For those I plan to lower the blinds and allow only minimal light in. Of course, all the potted ones will be watered well the day before or of the trip.
Any criticisms I would like to hear them now.
Nick

OrchidEye · #7 07-30-2008, 08:05 PM

thanks guys!!!

what about finding a way to enclose them better. A friend of mine said that he used a few trashbags and enclosed the area around the window where his orchids are. To keep the evaporating water from going anywhere. Would this work?

bonsai1504 · #8 07-30-2008, 08:43 PM

they should be fine for a week if you move them to a shadier spot and drench them well before the trip.

Shirley · #9 07-30-2008, 10:41 PM

When I was away for a while, I put thick newspaper in the bottom of my bathtub and got it sopping wet, then watered the plants well and set the pots on the wet newspaper. There is a glassblock window in the bathroom so they got diffused light. This worked very well and they didn't seem to be set back at all. Good luck with whatever you do!

Jorch · #10 07-30-2008, 10:54 PM

If you can, move them indoor to a shadier spot. Even putting them in the shade for a week (but don't drench beforehand) is ok. Shirley's idea of using the bathtub is a good idea too. Leaving them unattended for only a week is usually fine, unless you have very touchy species like mounted pleuros that need constant attention.