What I Came Home To...(picture heavy)

[NYCorchidman]

After a great vacation.

I moved almost all of the budded and in bloom orchids over to a friend's before I left, and vast majority of my orchids including some budded and in bloom ones stayed here.
I left AC on and curtain drawn low.

One of my favorite lady slippers had one of the new growths rotted out.

Some little ones and not so little ones looked quite thirsty, but the rest were amazingly in better conditions than I had expected.

Here are some pictures that I loved to see upon my return.

Den lamyaiae



Den Akatsuki, beautifully scented and second blooming at odd time of the year, nonetheless welcome



Tolumnia Genting Tequila



Tolumnia Genting Pink Lady, very promising super thick spike



Paph. brachy hybrid finally pushing a spike. can't wait to see the flower!



Paph Fanaticum x malipoense in spike



Paph Lynleigh Koopowitz (with delenatii dunkel) in double bud. One plant has typical green buds, and the other one darker buds. can't wait for them to open up.



Paph Magic Lantern pushing three new growths. You can see only two in the photo. Maybe this will be a super grower like my Armeni White.



Neo Shutennou x Koto cross. It had one spike with one flower last summer, and this year, three spikes!

[Cntry]

wow how wonderful to come back to a houseful of orchids that will flower for you soon.

[terracotta7]

What a lift to see all those blooms, buds, and spikes! Looking forward to seeing pictures of the "final products" when all those spikes are in bloom!

[No-Pro-mwa]

I guess they didn't miss you then? Hehehehe. So glad most of them did well, I can't wait to see the blooms.

[theloyalplum]

Looks wonderful! Kinda makes me look forward to neglecting mine in a few weeks...

If you don't mind me asking, how long were you out and how did you keep them watered while you were away?

[NYCorchidman]

Thanks all!
I will post pictures when they bloom, but I'm not sure what would be better, post them all again here or separately post them into their own category?

---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------

Originally Posted by theloyalplum

Looks wonderful! Kinda makes me look forward to neglecting mine in a few weeks...

If you don't mind me asking, how long were you out and how did you keep them watered while you were away?

I was gone for about two weeks.
I watered everyone real good the night before the trip.
I took three bag full of budded orchids in my friend's with a written instruction.

The ones that stayed at my place were not watered at all while I was gone. I had blinds drawn and left AC on set at 70F in case the temperature soars during my absence as NYC can get crazy hot during the summer time.

While all survived, many were looking quite dry and tired.
I got back early evening, but I watered the most tired looking ones (about 20 of them) that same night before I was exhausted and fell asleep.
Then next day, I spent all day watering the rest of them, went over to my friend's to collect my plants.

I don't recommend leaving your plants without watering for this long unless it is something like dendrobiums, cattleyas and certain others.
My collection is varied but mostly paphiopedilums and they should not be allowed to go dry this long, but this trip was a must.

[Joseia]

So nice to come home to those babies!

[tarev]

Lovely 'welcome home' for you!

[Leafmite]

How wonderful!

[camille1585]

Seeing the title, I was expecting photos of miserable looking plants. Instead, they look like a happy bunch! Nice to get home to that.

I go on vacation for 3 weeks every summer, and we don't have AC (not common in Europe). I water everyone really well the day before, and leave some water in the saucers. I know that it will be mostly gone within 3 days, and no risk of root rot. After 3 weeks the plants are dry, but otherwise fine. Even all my Phals!