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Florida Gardening

well water and orchids

11 years ago

My husband and I are taking a cross country tip that will take about 2 weeks. I've got about 25 catts that really concern me. They live on the lanai, and I water them once a week. A neighbor has offered to water them, but I know she isn't reliable. An alternative would be to move the 4x8 plant stands out into the tree area where the catts would be in shade most of the day and would be watered twice a week with the irrigation system. We're on the barrier island and salt has intruded our irrigation well. Can the orchids tolerate this salt? Obviously they get salty air since they are outside. Did I just answer my own question?? I don't think watering twice a week will be a problem if the hot weather continues.

Thanks for the help!

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Comments (5)

saldut
11 years ago
If you are worried abt. the water being too salty, put the catts. in the tree in the shade and don't water them, let Mother Nature do it for the 2 weeks....don't put them out in the sun or they may get too dry if we don't get rain..... Catts like to go dry between waterings anyway, not like the other types... they have those pseudobulbs that store water and too much watering can rot them anyway....sally
beachlily z9a
Original Author
11 years ago
Well, if 2 weeks isn't too long to go dry, I can leave them on the lani. They are under the roof so they don't get too much sun. I've grown catts for 15 years and do understand what they like, but was worried that the drought would be too long for them.

I appreciate your thoughts.
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imagardener2
11 years ago
I go through this every year when we go on our long summer trip, sometimes 4 weeks or more. I do what Sally suggests except I don't have enough shade so they are on a plastic shelf unit on the northeast side (least sun) but accessible to rain.

Last year it worked fine, enough rain.

Previous year we hooked up a timer/sprinkler and that was a disaster because snails LOVED the setup, all that wetness and munched them to pieces.

I think less water for orchids is preferable to too much water. We have salt irrigation too so turned it off 2 years ago and use city water when plants need water. Because we fear a sky-high water bill if someone leaves the faucet on we shut off our water main when we leave. (One of my neighbors left his hose on by accident and got a $900+ bill. They adjusted it down but yikes).

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beachlily z9a
Original Author
11 years ago
I've got an area in the yard where the sprinklers don't reach. It gets some morning sun and that's it. I could put them there, but the rains have only started in the last week and a half. Also, we have a substantial population of racoons and possoms. The orchids would be on a plastic shelf unit, but I could see the mammals having a field day. Guess I'll ask the neighbor to water once. If she doesn't, those will be some thirsty plants when we get home!!

We are never gone this long. I should worry more about my reaction to the trip and let the orchids fend for themselves. They are used to fairly regular care and they reward me with lots and lots of bloom.
jane__ny
11 years ago
I agree with all the above. No salt, not even water-softener water. Leave them out, protected from sun. We've been getting some rain almost daily. They will be fine, the snails, etc. will cause more damage.

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