Uh OH - looks like upcoming trips!

[Tikva]

We are plotting a couple of trips that would take us away for 5 days and then home for a bit, and then another 5 days......
I think / I'm pretty sure, my potted orchids will be happy in their pots and just miss their daily mistings but forgive me. But my mounted minis may be less forgiving....
Maybe I'll try what Tindo suggested to me - put them in the basement or a dark area upstairs in a 10 gallon fishtank... maybe I'll put a few cups of water in the bottom.....

Any other ideas? I fear I will need an orchid babysitter for next year when we travel more hehe....

Oh, I just put 2 plants in s/h to try it out. The directions I got said not to put water into the bottom for 3 weeks or so. I potted them last week. Think it would be OK to put some water in the bottom for next week?

[littlefrog]

Oh, I think you could get away with five days even on the minis... Depends on what they are, if they are cloud forest plants, maybe not.

I wouldn't worry at all about the potted plants. For five days, I might move the mounts a few feet away from the light source (window, whatever). Water well right before you leave, and you should be fine. I left my entire basement room unwatered for 10 days (just got back a couple days ago), and it is full of pleurothallids. No harm done. Of course my humidity is 80+ percent.

Long term, if you are a member of your local orchid society, start asking around. Many people would be happy to water your plants for you a few times while you are on vacation, if you would reciprocate when they are on vacation. That is how my greenhouse got watered while I was away... If you aren't a member of the local OS, become one. I almost always offer a nice plant or two after I get back, as well.