Vacation and watering

[manou]

Hi everybody,
We are going on vacation for more than 2 weeks(18days) and have nobody to water our phal during our absence.
The phal is in a west oriented window with a temperature of 65 at night and 75 during the day.
I will set the AC to keep a cool temperature arround 68 during our absence.My question is : Is it a problem if it lacks water for 18 days?
Thank you

[fred]

manou
you can place a saucer of water under the pot with some pebbles in it and sit the plant on top of the pebbles.
by doing that you will water the plant also its good for the humidity.
18 days should not be a problem.

[tom499]

yu can put a clear plastic bag over it too, as long as i doesnt get direct sunlight it wont burn the plant and it helps keep the air moist in the bag.

[Ellen]

If your phal is large and healthy to begin with, 18 days without watering should not be a problem. If it's in sphag, it might not need to be watered any more frequently than that anyway, if the temp is 68 degrees. Water it well before you leave, soaking the medium, and keep it out of direct sun and out of the direct path of air blowing from the air conditioner. It's probably better for it to get a bit dehydrated than for some well-meaning person to come in and pour massive amounts of water on it every day while you're gone.

[jerrymeola]

If you water it well before you leave it should not need water for 7-10 days normally and with the cooler temperatures 18 days should do OK.

It is definitely better than asking a friend without experience to water while you are gone.

[manou]

Thank you for your answers guys!
So I will keep the temperature cool and move it away from the window. I hope this will decrease its need for water. With warmer temperatures I usually water it every 8-9 days.
Thank you so much.