Orchids that can go 2- 3 weeks without water.

[caireparavel]

Over the next year I have to make quite a few trips to Europe , of 2-3 weeks duration.
No problems for all the plants outside , a water timer and the rain Gods will take of them hopefully.

But I got to thinking if I were to start keeping some Orchids inside, are there are any species that anyone knows of that can go 2 weeks plus without water ?

I am unmarried and would trust none of my neighbors with the keys to my house. so any species I wanted to buy to keep inside would have to be able to go through a drought for a while . Thanks

[Orchid Whisperer]

Many orchids will tolerate 2 or 3 weeks without water if they are properly watered in between.

First - I understand about the neighbor/key to house problem. Do you have a friend, co-worker etc.that you could drop off plants with for caretaking? This is assuming you have 4 or 5 orchids and not 50?

If the drop-off is not an option: you mention that you have outdoor plants. Do you have outdoor trees that have branches low enough to the ground that you can reach them? If you do, and it is reasonably like that it will rain and not freeze, you can hang orchids from branches in the tree. Or place them on a bench below the tree.

Barring those options, most Cattleya alliance, Dendrobium alliance, Phalaenopsis will tolerate dry for 2 or 3 weeks and proper watering at other times. If it is a couple months between trips, this could work for you (the orchid in a bag that you see at stores survive this all the time). You can decrease water loss by loosely tenting clear plastic over the plants and keeping them in lower light.

[ccrow]

I can say(as an absent-minded waterer) that Phals can definitely survive that long! Especially if you make sure to give them a good soak beforehand. (And let them drain:-))

[SFLguy]

Brassavola nodosa is very drought resistant

[Fairorchids]

The fact that many orchids will survive 2 or 3 weeks without water, does not mean that they will thrive if given this treatment repeatedly (multiple trips!).

In the summer (in NJ, my Cymbidium & reed stem Epidendrums are going outside tomorrow), you can put them outside in a lightly shaded spot, and rig a sprinkler with electronic controller to water every 2-3 days.

For the winter it becomes harder. Check with nurseries in your area, some will board plants for a fee.

[AnonYMouse]

There are many factors to watering frequency. What is the RH, temperature, potting medium, light.

I would wait out the year. You'll need a couple of months just to get the hang of a new plant, if not longer. It's not uncommon to see people on the board asking what went wrong with a plant after following instructions to a "T".

*Here is me, saying something I never thought I'd say*

Buy and enjoy supermarket NoID's for now. Depending on where you are, the selections have been getting better.

PS: Have you considered terrestrials for the outside? Bletilla striata are pretty tough.

[Leafmite]

Haraella rectrocalla, mounted (with just a very thin layer of moss). I grow two in jars and I put some water on the bottom of the jar, put in the mounted orchid, put the lid on and leave it alone. The mount wicks up water to the roots and this little orchid loves the humidity. I add water about once every four months. I wish all orchids could be this easy.

[H.L]

Based on my experience, my 20 phals (from baby to full size) did fine while I was away for a month (late summer).

I just soaked them in water for 6 hours (and drained them well). Then placed them in ceramic pots with about 0.5 to 1 cm of water at the bottom. Made sure the water is not touching the 'actual' plant pot. Left it by a closed window with blinds up.

ZERO casualty when i returned.


Good luck with yours!

PS: all of my phals are in barks.