Travel/vacation with Orchids? - Orchid Board

knsrn · #1 07-14-2020, 08:29 AM

I think this may be a silly question but I'm really not sure what would be best.

I only have my two NOID phals, a baby Den. Kingianum, and my african violet right now and I will be leaving tomorrow for two weeks to stay at the coast.

Should I just bring them with me? I have someone who can water them for me, but they are even less knowledgeable than me and would only be watering them when I call and ask them to (which is fine because I can ask what the media/soil looks like).

My only concern is the temperature environment change. The plants have been indoors and we live inland- where we are going will be hotter (even inside) and it's right on the water. Would it be too much of a change for them?

Appreciate any advice, TYIA.

Fairorchids · #2 07-14-2020, 08:54 AM

You can get African Violet pots, which have a water reservoir, which will last 2 weeks (as long as the room is not as hot as an oven).

Orchids: If you water them well, and then put in a room with relatively low light, they are fine for 7-10 days. If you can convince your friend to water once, you should be fine. But explain that watering means drenching.

estación seca · #3 07-14-2020, 09:20 AM

How warm will your growing area be day/night while you are gone? I agree with Kim your friend only needs to water once. I would leave a note next to the plants repeating that watering more than once would be too much, and the plants must not stand in water. My experience has been non-plant people forget what you tell them and water far too much, so leave a note.

Look up the wicking method of watering African violets. Many growers use that for them, and other gesneriads. In my warm house the self-watering pots don't work. Water doesn't move through the inner pot to the soil fast enough for the plants to get enough water.

camille1585 · #4 07-14-2020, 09:42 AM

I will admit that I usually take all my mini/small orchids (about 20-25 plants...) with me on vacation to France every summer because they dry out the fastest and I either don't have a plant sitter, or feel bad about the person coming more than once during my 3 week absence to water 50 plants one by one...

For the plants that do stay behind, I move them all to the coolest room in the apartment and draw the curtains (very light curtains) to keep the sun out. I water just before leaving and leave written instructions for the plant sitter (pour water through pot, no standing water...)

realoldbeachbum · #5 07-15-2020, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camille1585

I will admit that I usually take all my mini/small orchids (about 20-25 plants...) with me on vacation to France every summer because they dry out the fastest and I either don't have a plant sitter, or feel bad about the person coming more than once during my 3 week absence to water 50 plants one by one...

For the plants that do stay behind, I move them all to the coolest room in the apartment and draw the curtains (very light curtains) to keep the sun out. I water just before leaving and leave written instructions for the plant sitter (pour water through pot, no standing water...)

I am glad there are other orchid lovers that take their orchids on vacation. When I go to the coast for a month every Sep, I take the sick/smallest ones with me. The mature ones make it just fine with only two waterings by a neighbor.

SouthPark · #6 07-15-2020, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by realoldbeachbum

I am glad there are other orchid lovers that take their orchids on vacation. When I go to the coast for a month every Sep, I take the sick/smallest ones with me. The mature ones make it just fine with only two waterings by a neighbor.

Nice one ROBB!!!!! I'm picturing (not for you ----- somebody else) an extreme case of taking an entire collection hahahahahaha

knsrn · #7 07-14-2020, 10:01 AM

So it sounds like I should leave them?

The temp here should not change (74-76˚) and my original plan was to water them very well right before leaving and then have them checked on about every 4 days. My friend is right next door so it's not too much of a hassle.

I'm not too concerned about the orchids, but the violet is still adjusting. It's so tiny I worry about any set backs. I've developed an obses..habit of checking on them every day, so it may just be my anxiety.

estación seca · #8 07-14-2020, 10:17 AM

At those temperatures they will be fine with one watering.

African violets are very succulent and survive surprisingly long periods of time without water.

WaterWitchin · #9 07-14-2020, 10:40 AM

Put the AV in a bowl of water, leave the rest and have a friend water once. There's my vote.

I've left mine for two weeks with no water (inside, not outside) and they were fine.

SouthPark · #10 07-14-2020, 03:47 PM

Some very good suggestions made already above.

One option is your option - to take the orchids with you. Another option is - if you have time for it - is to have an automatic watering system (or some sort of watering system - even not automated) - not like this budget system (because you won't have time buy the components and to set it up) that I used to water my phrags and paphs while I was on about 9 days holiday ------- but some other system that you could rig-up ------ such as running some tubes at low water pressure (drip tubes), that can keep trickling small amounts of water down the sides of the pot (into the media around the sides of the pot). The only thing is ----- depends on whether you have sunlight etc near a basin or kitchen sink ----- or whether you can keep the orchids outside, so that the water can drain somewhere - instead of draining onto a home floor.

I'm thinking that if a very slow trickle .... real continuous slow drip or very slow trickle system ----- can be set up, and run water down toward the sides/rim of the pot ---- it could keep the pot media humid enough for two weeks.