Vacation advice for watering orchids

[keegan937]

Hi,

I will be gone for 9 days during which I need to keep my two orchids alive somehow. I have a dendrobium and a Vanda.

The troublesome thing is temperatures can reach as high as 35-36 °C, and at least 31-32°C around noon. Presently I water them everyday. I may have to move them to some place where they don't get direct sun, opposed to where they currently sit.

Can I set up a sort of self-watering system somehow? It would be really difficult to find someone to water them.

Thanks

[Subrosa]

Assuming you can use water straight from your tap, a sprinkler timer and some tubing would be a good start.

[Ray]

Or... move them into milder, shaded conditions, water them extra heavily (prolonged submersion) before you go, and don't worry about it. They might be awfully dry when you return, but they'll bounce back nicely.

[keegan937]

Originally Posted by Ray

Or... move them into milder, shaded conditions, water them extra heavily (prolonged submersion) before you go, and don't worry about it. They might be awfully dry when you return, but they'll bounce back nicely.

I may do this as a last resort if they can survive it.
I don't think i can get a timer based sprinkler.

[camille1585]

For the Vanda, if you have a tall vase or similar container, you can put a layer of leca at the bottom, a bit of water and stick the vanda in it. I've done that to provide a humid environment for mounts, but not sure if it would help a large plant in high heat. I've also drapped wet paper towels over roots. They dry within a day when it's hot, but it's one day less without water. One has to be creative when gonig on holiday in the summer...

For the Den, you could soak it well just before leaving, and set it in a saucer with small amount of water. I water most of my orchids like that in the summer before going on my usual 2 week holiday, and from tests I've done the water in the saucer is gone within 2-3 days, and the plants are fine when I get back (though here it never gets that hot)

[estación seca]

If the Vanda is bare-root, put it in a vase or container with the lowest part of the roots in an amount of water that will evaporate to a level below the roots in 3-4 days. The plant will be a little dry but fine. If it is large and hanging, hang it over a bucket with some water and the bottoms of the roots dangling in the water.

If the Vanda is potted, soak the whole pot and medium in water for an entire day before you leave, then put it in its usual spot. The plant will be a little dry when you get back but will recover.

As for the Dendrobium - which kind is it? Potted or mounted?

[rbarata]

You've already told us about temps.
And humidity?
Do you know your humidity levels?

[keegan937]

Thanks for the suggestions.
The Vanda hangs bare root (large plant).
The dendrobium is potted in chunks of coconut bark.
I do not know the humidity levels, I'd guess between 30 - 60 % maybe.

I'm thinking I might move them to the bathroom which stays cool, but very little sunlight.