Vacation care for mounts?

[Miranda321]

I love the look of mounted orchids, but I am afraid to make one as I don't know what I would do if I wanted to go on vacation or a business trip for a week. My potted orchids will last a week, but it does not sound like a mount can go more than a day or two. Do you think a mounted catt would be happy in my orchid terrarium for a temporary home for the week (70-80% humidity)? What do other people do when there is no one else to care for your orchid collection?

[Ray]

Before you make a cultural choice based upon aesthetics, think about what it means in terms of overall culture. Most folks with mounted plants water them daily, if not several times a day, especially in warmer months. Are you in a position to do that?

As to your "travel" question: Anything with pseudobulbs will be fine for a week or more. Water them very thoroughly for several days before traveling, and they'll be fine - a complete immersion for an hour will saturate the plant and the mount. They may become a bit desiccated while you're away, but should rebound fine once regular watering is resumed.

[-k-]

Yeah, this can present a problem for sure! If you’re handy you could do what I did to get around this problem, which was make a free standing 3ft x 3ft square box made of 2 x 2 for the frame and 4 x 4 for the base and drill hooks into the top underside. The dimensions would fit most windowsills, I was fortunate to have a friend care for them while we were away. I brought the mounts over to his home and placed it in the window, fit snug as a bug, problem solved I did however place two bricks on each corner to help secure it though it did not need it, but hey these are your chids and we wouldn't want to risk them toppling over!
He liked the mount stand so much I made one for him as well!

[psyc1210]

I have had a family member babysit my mounts when I go on vacation. Mine need watered once a day. By the way, where in MD are you located?

[Miranda321]

Originally Posted by psyc1210

I have had a family member babysit my mounts when I go on vacation. Mine need watered once a day. By the way, where in MD are you located?

Hi, psyc1210! I am in the Columbia area of Maryland. Am slowly learning where to find local orchid resources. Most of my orchids (except my terrarium babies) have been Lowe's or Home Depot rescues, and that is where I have picked up bark mixes and sphag up to now.

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by Miranda321

Hi, psyc1210! I am in the Columbia area of Maryland. Am slowly learning where to find local orchid resources. Most of my orchids (except my terrarium babies) have been Lowe's or Home Depot rescues, and that is where I have picked up bark mixes and sphag up to now.

I am in Frederick, so not too far from you
There are a few local orchid sources. My favorite so far is Al's in Leesburg, VA

[HotPot]

ever head of wicking? fill a bottle with water use a cotton wick to supply moisture to your mounts while you are away.

[denite25]

good to see there are more orchid geeks in md......i was starting to feel alone..... are you guys going to the orchid show in dcnext month.

[jerrymeola]

Cattleya have been known to live a month without water and survive.

Any Cat can go a week without water.

You can chose to do what I recommend for my Vanda customers. Take the plant and soak it in water for 15-20 minutes before you leave and again when you get back. Vanda handle this care easily and do not lose any growing time. Cattleya will be even easier.

I have hundreds of mounted Cattleya. When I am away a week I do not even think about them.

[cerastes]

I wrap the roots of my smaller mounted orchids with aluminum foil. I water, wait an hour and then wrap them. This has worked well for me many times over the years. Ansences are typically for a week.

[mountain_goat]

I don't think 1 week can be a problem for cattleyas, unless it's a really small seedling. I don't have mounts, but I have few bareroot vanda seedlings. When I was going away for 3 weeks I just put them in plastic cups with a little bit of sphagnum in it and then put all seedlings in a big plastic box with sphagnum to keep humidity high. When I was back half of them look even better then before This weekend I'm going away for 1 week and I still don't know whether I should even bother to put them in a box this time..