Tolumnia potting question

[Paul Mc]

I just bought a Tolumnia, and from what I've read in books and online it should be potted bare-root with perhaps a few pieces of charcoal mixed in (for good luck, lol...). I am willing to water it everyday in the morning as people and books have suggested and leave it in it's tiny clay pot.

Here's my questions/dillemas though.

1.) How do you guys ensure that your Tolumnia gets what it needs when you are on vacation. While I could always ask someone to water it, bear in mind that there are over 80 tropical plants plus my 30 something orchids and I don't want to overload someone with that. Would putting some sphag lightly packed in for the week to 10 days while on vacation be acceptable?

2.) The grower has it potted in somesort of moss, and I haven't dug in to see what's in there. The roots are all over the place outside of the pot. I'm assuming it would be best to completely get rid of what's in there and follow the standard of nothing but a few pieces of charcoal with the roots. Or would placing a few small strands of sphag be acceptable?