Holiday Care

[Woods]

Hi,

I'm going on holiday for just over 3 weeks and have left instructions on watering my two Phals. What I need advice on is whether to soak my recently repotted Phal tomorrow before I leave. It was repotted last week and seems to be OK at holiding water but the top is very dry. I soaked the new bark for over 24hours before repotting.

I have gently misted the top bark during the week but it dries out very quickly. There is clearly moisture in the pot - it's a clear pot. If I wasn't going away I wouldn't soak it but I don't want to leave it 3 weeks before soaking the new bark again. I also have extra bark from the repotting kit that I could soak and add to the top of the pot.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

A

[Ellen]

Your newly repotted phal will probably be just fine with normal watering by your caretaker. Of course, you've got to hope that the caretaker follows instructions - not all do, so you should emphasize the importance of not over- or underwatering and not moving your phals because they "need sun". Since you're in a cool climate, once a week watering for all your phals in bark should be plenty. For phals in sphag, you could probably go away for 3 weeks, leave them completely alone, and they'd be fine when you get back.

[Woods]

Thanks Ellen,

Just needed some reassurance.

Anne