vacation...what to do?

[charleyismydog]

I am leaving town for 5 days. I am not particularly worried about most of my orchids since I can water them the morning that I leave and they should be fine, but I am worried about my two mounted ones (an Slc. and a Den. cucumerinum). The Slc. was recently mounted and is just starting to grow new roots. I don't want to lose the momentum that I've finally got gowing. I usually water them every morning and then mist in the late afternoon. Does anyone have any tricks for keeping them watered while I'm gone? I am actually contemplating just putting them in a shoe box and bringing them with me (they're both kind of small).

[arleneg]

I suggest using the sphag and bag method. There's a thread about it in this forum. Check it out by doing a search. I would've included the link, but don't have time to search for the thread right now.

Or...maybe someone will chime in and post it.

[snowballsarebad]

I recently went on vacation for about 10 days. I have a couple mounted orchids, a laeliocattleya and a maxillaria tenuifolia. The LC did just fine, looked no different. The Max ended up getting a little dehydrated, but it is still going strong with its new growths. I do recommend giving them a good soaking the day you leave.
I think it also depends on what you have. Cattleya types don't mind drying out, so I don't think 5 days would bother it, especially if you have it inside where it won't bake in the sun. There are other orchids though that don't like being dried out so much, and if they are mounted, you might come back to see them a little dry. Though, like I said, 10 days didn't do any real damage to any of my plants.

[Tobi]

Charlie,
I have 2 mounted orchids that I take on any extended vacation where I'm
not flying. I've done this several times and have had good luck doing this. I
know certain conditions vary (Where you are staying, etc but if you don't
mind and have the room, bring the "kids" on vacation with you. Both of your
mounts are orchids that probably won't mind drying out somewhat without
any seroius harm. So it's up to you.

[Ellen]

I would think that the Catt and Den cucumerinum (don't you love that one?) will be fine for 5 days if watered thoroughly before you leave, assuming that they are multiple growth plants. Both have quite a bit of moisture storage capacity. Just keep them out of the sun, in the coolest place you have (but, of course, don't let A/C blow on them).

[jerrymeola]

I have over 100 mounted orchids that are not in the greenhouse on automatic watering. During the dry winter in Florida even outside they do well with watering only once a week. I prefer 2-3 times but miss at least 6-8 times a year and occasionally I go 2 weeks or more. They seem to do as well as the ones in the greenhouse who are watered every day automatically.

On Cattleya and Dendrobium, dry periods are not a problem.

[charleyismydog]

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. I'm a little stress ball though, so maybe I will just bring them with me. Perhaps the country air will do them some good too!