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Watering while away help,

Annette Holbrook(z7a)

16 years ago

Hi all, I am not a regular poster on the orchid thread, I'm usually over in Georgia Gardening or the Hosta forums.

I was hoping some of you more knowledgable orchid folks could advise me about watering while on vacation. I have about 10 orchids(1 paph, 2 catts, 1 brassavola,2 dendrobium and 4 phals) that live on my covered porch during the summer. I am leaving for about 8 days and the person that is watching the cats isn't comfortable being left in charge of the orchids. I told her I won't be upset if they don't survive (which I'm sure they will!), but thought I could find another option here.

I was going to give them all a good soaking before I leave. I was also thinking about hooking up an automatic waterer. Would it be harmful for the orchids to get a bit of water every day. This seems to be how these things operate.

Thanks all for any advice,

Annette

Here is a link that might be useful: oasis

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Comments (8)

michoice
16 years ago
Hi Annette, eight days should not be too much of a problem.You don't mention pot size or type of compost. I have plants in 5 and 6 inch plastic pots with a bark mixture that would only need watering once in 7 or 8 days. If some of your plants are in smaller pots or are mounted you could consider giving them a good watering before you go and making a clear polythene cloche to house them in, the smaller the better this would considerably cut down
water evaporation. Have a nice holiday and good luck.
wetfeet101b
16 years ago
8 days should be ok without watering, unless the orchids are on mounts that dry up quickly.
If the orchids are on pots, the cattleyas and dendrobiums actually appreciate a brief dry-out period between waterings.

Just give them a really good drenching the day before you leave and they should be fine.
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Annette Holbrook(z7a)
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks all, it is pretty humid here in Georgia this time of year as well, so that will probably help.
Most of mine are in plastic pots, they are the ones that the guy at an orchid symposium used to show how to re-pot. 2 are in clay pots. They are mostly in that bark, orchid planting stuff, except 2 that I got at a local orchid specialty nursery that are in a soil, bark mixture of some sort. Those 2 are my healthiest, happiest plants and I'm debating on switching the rest out to the orchid nursery medium. The owner told me he'd sell me a bag for about $10.
That will have to wait until after I get back, plus I know if I go there to get the stuff I'll come home with more orchids!!
Annette
turkeytaker
16 years ago
I would probably bring them inside (I saw on your other thread that you've got them outside for the summer) and give them a nice bath before you leave.
cjwatson
16 years ago
I agree with turkeytkr. I would bring them inside into the a/c. They are really going to suffer with temps in the 90s and above for eight days. Put them in front of a window with indirect light -- they can live without lots of light for a week -- and give them a good soaking before you leave. That should take care of it.
mrbreeze
16 years ago
And I agree with the previous two turkeys (just kidding CJ!!!).

However if you can't or don't want to bring them inside, I would put them in a location that gets much less light and much less air (wind), grouped together. The Phalz are the only ones I'd be even slightly worried about.

For your next orchid purchase, may I recommend Angraecoids? Have fun!
-MB
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the input. I will probably leave them all out except the Phals. I can put them back in the bathroom for the week.

I just looked for Angaecoids but didn't find any. I know I'll probably regret this, but do you have a link? ;)

Thanks,
Annette
mrbreeze
16 years ago
LOL...well i don't think i can post links. But if you google Cal orchids and click on their section of African orchids, you'll see some nice ones. Oak Hill nursery has a nice selection of seedlings and so does Hoosiers orchids.

Plus you missed an 'r' I think. A n g r a e c o i d. :)
-MB

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