Lepanthopsis astrophora care

[samfish]

I have a mounted Lepanthopsis astrophora, which I water daily to keep it moist.

I am going out of town for 3 days, and the plant will likely be dry after 2 days without water.

Humidity is relatively high, 70-80%


Do you think the plant can survive 1-2 days of being dry, if this only happens on occasion?

[Leafmite]

I just bought one of these and, like the other miniature orchids that need high humidity and don't like to dry, I put a layer of LECA in the jar, poured in some distilled water and then set the mount on top of the LECA. Then I put the lid on the jar. The mount wicks up the water to the roots and keeps the Orchid watered. You should test the set up before you go and make certain that the LECA is wicking up water to the mount. Good luck!

[cbuchman]

I've been gone for as long as a week using the "jar" method above, or a variant thereof. I do suggest that you leave the top of your jar or other container with a little opening for air circulation though.

Someone gave me some mason jars with holes in the lids for drinking straws and they work great for smaller mounts. For larger items, I use a large Plastic bin with sphag (or Leca or other) and put small clay pots in it on which I place the larger item. I then put the lid on the container, slightly askew to allow for the air circulation. As I said, I've found this holds for a week - actually I make sure it dried completely after I get home, to "reset" to my normal watering schedule.

You can also purchase "table top" greenhouses which also work well.

I use all of these when we're away for a week or less. When we're gone for more than a week, I hire a plant sitter who gets very detailed instructions!

[Leafmite]

With your humidity, you would not need a lid and could just set the mount in a saucer with water.

For others who might try this idea and have low humidity, I should point out that cbuchman's idea of having a hole in the lid is a good one. The lids on my jars are pretty loose.

[RosieC]

The jar method sounds great but I wouldn't bother with the lid.

I keep my Lepanthes in a vase with water and stones in the bottom (and the Lepanthes hanging about half way down. When I went away for 10 days in the summer I just watered before I left and it was fine. OK rather dry when I got back, but it's survived fine.

[Tindomul]

How did it turn out for you?