How long without water?

[Diane]

So - I'll be off on my next business trip soon and I am without an orchid sitter. And unfortunately this will be a long trip. I will be departing either the 20th or 21st of this month, and the earliest I will be getting back is the 6th, possibly not until the 9th of March. So 18 days maximum. What is your opinion on whether or not my 'chids will do all that time without water?

I know the catts should survive but not be happy, and I'll lose any buds. But the paphs, phrags and phals.... think they will survive?

Currently all the plants are in media that allows them to be happy with watering once a week (except for occaisional boosts when in bloom)

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Diane,

I asked and he suggested you place your plants in a tray of water - not enough to last for 18 days, but a tiny bit that will keep them for at least a week. That way when they dry out it will only be for a week and then you will be home.

Cheers,
BD

[smartie2000]

I agree, if there's no orchid sitter then set the pots in water. I'm just scared there will be some root rot, if you have many roots at the base of the pots like paphs. Set the phrags in water for sure, no worries there

You can also try putting the orchids in clear bags to conserve moisture....thats a lot of bags there. Maybe large recycle bags and several plants in a blown up one.

[Piper]

Who's feeding Daph? I've grouped my thirstier plants in the bathtub and asked my cat sitter to turn the shower on while she's there to feed my cats, once every few days.

McJulie

[Diane]

My regular cat/orchid sitter isn't available so I have a substitute who doesn't do plants. I can't fit them all in the shower, so I'm trying to work on alternatives... If only Doc Spock was a physics genius maybe he could whip up one of those "Beam me up Scotty" things so I could commute back home to care for the 'chids.

As it is Daffy probably won't speak to me for at least a couple of days when I get home.. although I am sure I will be awakened several times with a cat butt in my face.

[clintdawley]

Diane..

I agree with BD..I've done this before. But just for two weeks...

Put about 1" of water in a large tray (humidity tray works fine) and set the pots in there. When I came home all of the water was gone and the media was pretty dry as well.

[Ron-NY]

Diane...give a call to a few members of your local OS...that is where I usually find someone to stop by, at least once. One year an OS member, who must be a tad compulsive, tidied up the plants and even trimmed dead ended leaves.

[sake of silence]

Since temperatures are down anyways, stick them in the dark. They arent going to want to photosythesize anyways with lower temperatures. (Assuming your cat isnt there...) Theyll take the spell without water a little easier that way at least. It should cut down on evaporation/water absorption too.

Putting phals in trays of water is probably not the best idea. Roots can only absorb water for somewhere around twenty minutes, after that your suffocating the stomata.

[Molly Taco]

Who is taking care of your Kitty?? That is the important thing???? I will fly out at your expence and care for your orchids,LOL
Cin

[Diane]

Who is taking care of your Kitty?? That is the important thing???? I will fly out at your expence and care for your orchids,LOL
Cin

You know, it's weird, I work for a company that is consistently in the top 100 companies to work for, the top 10 pharma companies to work for, etc... We have benefits that can not be beat - the company puts a contribution equal to 10% of your salary into 401k, provides child care reimbursement, discounted legal services, fabulous medical and dental, I pay $7 for 90 days of ANY prescribed medication and on and on.... BUT they will not reimburse people for pet sitting fees. And sitters out here are getting up to $25 a day. (this time I am paying a fixed fee of $250). And, I will be home for 4 days and then leave for a week in Japan! And back to Japan for 2 weeks in April. Last year I paid over $2000 in pet sitting fees and got no reimbursement and you can't deduct it as a business expense!! GRRRRRRRRR

I'm thinking about making an appointment with a shrink (and my medical benefits pay 100% for that) and getting him/her to declare that I must have a pet for mental health - then at least I could take the cost off my taxes.

Okay - sorry - it was an especially tough day today, I needed to vent...