Leaving orchids home alone for 3 weeks...

[vlhart]

Hi everyone!

Over the holidays it looks like I'm going to have to leave my orchids (mostly Phals, tolumnias, neofinetia and dendrobiums) untended for 3 weeks in an NYC apartment that gets very dry due to the radiator (75-80F, 20% humidity). They usually get a lot of daily spraying and a weekly soaking, so I'm naturally worried they all won't survive (or will just barely).

Does anyone have any tips/best practices on how to keep them going?

[My Green Pets]

Plant sitter would be best.

If not, some kind of heavy watering / sitting in a plant tray with water before you leave that would take a week or two to dry out completely.

[vlhart]

Have to for-go a plant sitter, unfortunately.

Someone just suggested putting them all in the bathtub on a raised platform of some sort, with a lot of sitting water underneath and with a light on a timer which I think is a pretty good idea.

Would love to hear if anyone else has found a good method too!

[estación seca]

Many nurseries with greenhouses board orchids for absent owners. I would look into this.

If you must leave them in your apartment, do the timed light thing on a rack over the bathtub. Mind water/electrical safety!!!!!!! Try and block off the heat to the bathroom so daytime highs are closer to 70F. Leave, filled with water, every bucket, saucepan, soup kettle, vase, coffee mug and beverage glass you own in the bathroom to add even more water to evaporate. Shut the door and stuff a towel in the crack at the floor to seal it as best you can.

[camille1585]

I leave mine alone for 2-3 weeks every year over Christmas. Mostly phals and Oncs, and they are perfectly fine. Phals can tolerate a dry spell better than you'd think. What I do is move them all away from the windows (where they get sun), water them very well the day before leaving, and leave a little bit of water in each of their saucers. No, they don't rot, that happens to be my normal way of watering year round, and the water in the saucer is usually gone within 3-4 days. My humidity is higher than yours though, it's more around 50-60% inside.


I've even left my orchids alone 3 weeks several times in the summer. The Phals and other large orchids did fine, other than being a bit dehydrated. I did lose some of the smaller plants though.

[Fairorchids]

If you can't get a weekly sitter:

No. 1, turn down thermostat to 55-60°.
No. 2, borrow or rent a humidifier w large capacity tank.

Neos & Dens should be fine. Consider boarding the Phals w another grower.

[Leafmite]

You could always do as Camille says but also make a tent for your orchids with some clear plastic drop cloth (found in the painting section of a big box store) and put bowls of water around the plants to add to humidity. You would want to make the tent large enough so that you don't create problems with rot.

Or, you could not worry so much about the orchids.
As Camellia says, the Phals should be fine. I found with a recent rescue Phal that was dehydrated that after soaking the roots in water for two and a half days, the roots and leaves became plump again (I took it out of the medium before soaking it, potted it again after and then returned it to its owner).
Good luck.

---------- Post added at 11:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------

I don't know much about tolumnias but I think they are the ones that might need the daily care.

[Fairorchids]

Tolumnias like to get a shot of water in the early morning (= morning dew in nature), and to be dry by 10 AM (in the trade winds breeze). They can tolerate being dry for several days, but I am not sure how they would react to 3 weeks.

[mremensnyder]

I have slowly come to the realization that with all the delicate orchid species I keep (as well as bonsai, and a yard full of cold sensitive palms and other tropicals), that I have to plan my vacations accordingly. I honestly would not feel comfortable leaving for more than 3-4 days without an educated plant sitter. That and I would try to plan it so I could bring the most tender orchids along with me, except for on "cold weather" vacations where they would be worse off than at home. I did this when I took a week long trip to Marco Island, FL last year and all my leafless did just fine on the porch of the time share. I am sure the other guests thought I was odd as I stood there spraying an aluminum cage full of roots with a spray bottle But, you have to do what you have to do.

[bil]

Originally Posted by mremensnyder

I did this when I took a week long trip to Marco Island, FL last year and all my leafless did just fine on the porch of the time share. I am sure the other guests thought I was odd as I stood there spraying an aluminum cage full of roots with a spray bottle

Don't you ever worry that you will turn round and there will be some nice men with a handy wrap around canvas jacket for you?