Brassavola jariak finch

[sewagner86]

A wonderful friend got me a Brassavola Jariak finch for my birthday. I was so happy when I got it, but I am VERY inexperienced growing anything mounted. I will be traveling for work starting this week so I am trying to figure out how to keep the plant happy while I am gone. Can I put a little sphagnum moss around the roots to just keep some moisture there? Any other suggestions? It's mounted on some plastic and has nothing around the roots

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by sewagner86

A wonderful friend got me a Brassavola Jariak finch for my birthday. I was so happy when I got it, but I am VERY inexperienced growing anything mounted. I will be traveling for work starting this week so I am trying to figure out how to keep the plant happy while I am gone. Can I put a little sphagnum moss around the roots to just keep some moisture there? Any other suggestions? It's mounted on some plastic and has nothing around the roots

It's now Brassocatanthe. Jairak (note spelling) is a Thai nursery. This plant is Brassocatanthe Jairak Finch:
Brassocatanthe Jairak Finch

How long will you be gone? It needs less water in winter than would most Cattleya alliance plants on a mount, but probably should be watered every 2-3 days. It could probably go 10-12 days without too much damage but would shrivel. If you keep it too wet it will rot.

[Clawhammer]

This will need to be watered daily. The roots will rot if you add sphag, they are used to drying out quickly and having a lot of O2. Is there anyone who can water it for you when you are out of town?

[Roberta]

How many days will the plant be without attention? It could be dropped into a larger basket, with some large bark to provide more surface area to keep the root-zone humidity up while you are away. Then when you get home, set it free again. A short-term "not ideal" environment (too dry, too wet) for a short time shouldn't hurt things. Just move it back to the more ideal conditions when you are home. ( a few days or even a few weeks won't matter much, but don't let it go for months)