Figured out how to pot miltonoiopsis, but what to do while away?

[(..._...)]

Ok, so I have figured out how to properly cultivate my miltoniopsis! I have it in a 4" plastic pot, half filled with packing penuts, with the medium being medium-small sized bark. It is now watered every morning, and dryes to dampness by the evening, and still holds a tiny bit of moisture by the next morning.

Now that I have figured out that problem... what can I do if I have to go away for 2- 3 days? If I do that on occasion (say every once and a while during the summer, would placing damp sphagum moss on the surface hurt the plant? (ie keeping a bit "wetter" for a few days?)

any tips would be greatly appretiated

thanks!!

[Des]

I grow mine in a double clay pot . the pot that the Milt is actually growing in is glued into a larger clay pot and the cavity between the two pots is filled with 3 mm stone and topped up with water. This keeps the roots cool and damp.Hope this helps

[kiki-do]

Wow, Des..... when I read this post I didn't have a clue about doing something like that. Going away for a few days has been a fear of mine regarding orchids that need constant care. What a great suggestion! I'm putting that one in the vault! Thanks!

[Des]

Its a pleasure.

[(..._...)]

wow! what great advice!
i have a question about it though: does the outer pot have no holes? so that the liquid is always staying on the outside of the pot? or do you just drench the stones, and the excess water drains out of the pot? is this in combination with regular watering? or is this how the plants is watered (continuously)?

thanks!

[snow]

hi (. . . . . .) !! WHAT should we call you ???????

[MJSK]

I have a Miltoniopsis santanaei from Andy's Orchids that came in a hanging basket with sphagnum moss. I have lost too many orchids to root rot and travel so the orchid has completely dried out. I have lost several leaves druing the past few months, should this orchid be moist at all times, like a phaleanopsis?

[Des]

The holes of the outer and inner pots are lined up so that your feed water drains through both of them . The outer cavity is a sealed reservoir the water in the reservoir permeates through both the inner and outer walls keeping the plant cool and moist. Miltoniopsis should never be allowed to dry out and should be repotted annually

[Des]

For those of you who want some good information on growing Miltoniopsis visit Jim Kennedy's website

[MJSK]

Des, thanks for the information. Can you provide a link for the website?