vacation... what about my phals?
 

Going on vacation for two weeks and I have no idea what to do with my chids. I have one phal and one cane orchid in bloom and the rest are just phals growing leaves. Will they survive without being watered? I'm thinking about moving them into the basement since it's cooler but I don't think they will be getting much sun or air movement. Any advice?

Hey
 

I would soak them before your leave, and try to leave them in a low light area that is humid....you could get some humidity trays before you leave, or create your own..I hope they do good, it is a long time without water but if you do all you can i think they will be just fine.

Is there anyone you could ask to come and check on your 'chids a couple of times while you're not there? Last time I went on vacation I asked a woman who lives in our building and walks other people's dogs to visit my orchids. I had to pay her, of course, but my plants looked great when I got back.

if you are gone less than two weeks i would just water em good before i left and leave em alone....if you put them in a low light area, make sure you have a fan on them to prevent mold and fungus growth....

+1 to the above

I had no idea they could mold.
Do you think the blooms will last when I get back?

You may lose the blooms but the plant itself should be OK.

Probably a bit late now, I got back from my vacation just over a week ago and I'm still catching up reading OB.

Anyway, for potted phals, dendrobiums, paphs, oncs etc I just water the day I leave, then any in the window I put on a table in the middle of the room so that while they are getting light they are not in bright sunshine. If I'm only away a week I leave them where they are unless they are already struggling.

Mounted plants is more of a problem. This time I watered them well a couple of times the day before, then laid them in the bottom of the bath with the plug in and a tiny bit of water around the plug hole (not touching the plants or mounts). This gave both lower light (still some light) and I hopped it would keep humidity in the bath so they dried slower. Seemed to work, they were needing a drink when I got back, but perked up well and look fine again now.

happy to report that after I came back from my vacation all my plants look healthy and even my cym has sprouted what I THINK is a spike. Anyone have advice on how to keep it growing? There isn't much sunlight in the basement, so should I just leave it down there since it was able to grow a spike in those conditions?

Great news!

I would probably put the Cym back in it's usual spot. Many of these like plenty of light. It might have been prompted into flowering by the cooler environment but I would expect it to be fine to move it back again now.