Well, not quite what I mean, but:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Should I give them both a really heavy water before going?
Should I move them to a cold north facing room?
Should I stand them near a bowl of water?

Anything else?

Many thanks

--
Roger T

700 ft up in Mid-Wales

"Roger Tonkin" wrote

Well, not quite what I mean, but:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Should I give them both a really heavy water before going?
Should I move them to a cold north facing room?
Should I stand them near a bowl of water?

Anything else?


Give them a good morning drink before you go but don't let them stand in
water. Partially fill a bucket with water and stand the pot in that for an
hour then take it out and drain.
A cooler room is OK but not a cold room. Moving the warm one into a cooler
room should also initiate a new flower spike to grow.
They do love humidity so anything to increase that is fine as long as it
does not get too cold.
Those big fleshy leaves are also storage organs so providing they are firm
and fat the plants should be fine. Give them another good drink on your
return. It's always safest to water in the morning as water left lying on
the leaves and especially in the crown overnight will cause rot.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

In article ,
says...

"Roger Tonkin" wrote

Well, not quite what I mean, but:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Should I give them both a really heavy water before going?
Should I move them to a cold north facing room?
Should I stand them near a bowl of water?

Anything else?


Give them a good morning drink before you go but don't let them stand in
water. Partially fill a bucket with water and stand the pot in that for an
hour then take it out and drain.
A cooler room is OK but not a cold room. Moving the warm one into a cooler
room should also initiate a new flower spike to grow.
They do love humidity so anything to increase that is fine as long as it
does not get too cold.
Those big fleshy leaves are also storage organs so providing they are firm
and fat the plants should be fine. Give them another good drink on your
return. It's always safest to water in the morning as water left lying on
the leaves and especially in the crown overnight will cause rot.

Thanks Bob. Humidity is probably the main problem, I can not
see swmbo allowing a bowl of water placed on the sideboard next
to the orchid!

I've realised of course that the house will be a lot cooler
anyway as we'll turn the heating down low as we go away this
week.

--
Roger T

700 ft up in Mid-Wales

"Roger Tonkin" wroteIn

BobH says...

"Roger Tonkin" wrote

Well, not quite what I mean, but:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Should I give them both a really heavy water before going?
Should I move them to a cold north facing room?
Should I stand them near a bowl of water?

Anything else?


Give them a good morning drink before you go but don't let them stand in
water. Partially fill a bucket with water and stand the pot in that for
an
hour then take it out and drain.
A cooler room is OK but not a cold room. Moving the warm one into a
cooler
room should also initiate a new flower spike to grow.
They do love humidity so anything to increase that is fine as long as it
does not get too cold.
Those big fleshy leaves are also storage organs so providing they are
firm
and fat the plants should be fine. Give them another good drink on your
return. It's always safest to water in the morning as water left lying on
the leaves and especially in the crown overnight will cause rot.

Thanks Bob. Humidity is probably the main problem, I can not
see swmbo allowing a bowl of water placed on the sideboard next
to the orchid!

I've realised of course that the house will be a lot cooler
anyway as we'll turn the heating down low as we go away this
week.


If they are cool then raising the humidity isn't that important.
They used to say if you get the humidity right the wallpaper will fall off
the wall. :-)
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

In article ,
Bob Hobden wrote:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Thanks Bob. Humidity is probably the main problem, I can not
see swmbo allowing a bowl of water placed on the sideboard next
to the orchid!

I've realised of course that the house will be a lot cooler
anyway as we'll turn the heating down low as we go away this
week.

If they are cool then raising the humidity isn't that important.
They used to say if you get the humidity right the wallpaper will fall off
the wall. :-)

Actually, I think that a lot of this is overstatement, because that
may be what is best but is not necessary (at least for the commonly
available varieties). We had one that sat on a south-facing window
ledge and thrived on intermittent watering and the occasional
repotting for many years.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 10/03/2014 12:10, Bob Hobden wrote:
"Roger Tonkin" wroteIn

BobH says...

"Roger Tonkin" wrote

Well, not quite what I mean, but:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Should I give them both a really heavy water before going?
Should I move them to a cold north facing room?
Should I stand them near a bowl of water?

Anything else?


Give them a good morning drink before you go but don't let them stand in
water. Partially fill a bucket with water and stand the pot in that for
an
hour then take it out and drain.
A cooler room is OK but not a cold room. Moving the warm one into a
cooler
room should also initiate a new flower spike to grow.
They do love humidity so anything to increase that is fine as long as it
does not get too cold.
Those big fleshy leaves are also storage organs so providing they are
firm
and fat the plants should be fine. Give them another good drink on your
return. It's always safest to water in the morning as water left lying on
the leaves and especially in the crown overnight will cause rot.

Thanks Bob. Humidity is probably the main problem, I can not
see swmbo allowing a bowl of water placed on the sideboard next
to the orchid!

I've realised of course that the house will be a lot cooler
anyway as we'll turn the heating down low as we go away this
week.


If they are cool then raising the humidity isn't that important.
They used to say if you get the humidity right the wallpaper will fall off
the wall. :-)

Would it be of any help to place the whole plant inside a clear
polythene bag (assuming you can find one which fits), and seal it? That
way the humidity would be kept up, and any water which condensed would
eventually run down inside the bag. Maybe it could be arranged so that
this water could find its way back into the pot.

--

Jeff

On 2014-03-10 10:10:38 +0000, Roger Tonkin said:

In article ,
says...

"Roger Tonkin" wrote

Well, not quite what I mean, but:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Should I give them both a really heavy water before going?
Should I move them to a cold north facing room?
Should I stand them near a bowl of water?

Anything else?


Give them a good morning drink before you go but don't let them stand in
water. Partially fill a bucket with water and stand the pot in that for an
hour then take it out and drain.
A cooler room is OK but not a cold room. Moving the warm one into a cooler
room should also initiate a new flower spike to grow.
They do love humidity so anything to increase that is fine as long as it
does not get too cold.
Those big fleshy leaves are also storage organs so providing they are firm
and fat the plants should be fine. Give them another good drink on your
return. It's always safest to water in the morning as water left lying on
the leaves and especially in the crown overnight will cause rot.

Thanks Bob. Humidity is probably the main problem, I can not
see swmbo allowing a bowl of water placed on the sideboard next
to the orchid!

I've realised of course that the house will be a lot cooler
anyway as we'll turn the heating down low as we go away this
week.

I have some plain, round, glass mats a glazier cut for me several years
ago. I use them on dark furniture where I don't want mats under vases
to be obtrusive. If you can find someone to make a few for you, your
orchids may thank you!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

"Nick Maclaren" wrote
Bob Hobden wrote:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Thanks Bob. Humidity is probably the main problem, I can not
see swmbo allowing a bowl of water placed on the sideboard next
to the orchid!

I've realised of course that the house will be a lot cooler
anyway as we'll turn the heating down low as we go away this
week.

If they are cool then raising the humidity isn't that important.
They used to say if you get the humidity right the wallpaper will fall off
the wall. :-)

Actually, I think that a lot of this is overstatement, because that
may be what is best but is not necessary (at least for the commonly
available varieties). We had one that sat on a south-facing window
ledge and thrived on intermittent watering and the occasional
repotting for many years.


Very true, a lot of the more commonly available orchids have been
"domesticated" and although in an ideal world require all sorts of humidity,
air circulation, watering and strict temperature ranges they often have not
read the books. I can remember decades ago when Phals were £25 each, only
available from specialist orchid nurseries, and a devil to grow even in
specialist greenhouses, now anyone can grow them on a windowsill it seems.

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

"Jeff Layman" wrote ...

Bob Hobden wrote:
"Roger Tonkin" wroteIn

BobH says...

"Roger Tonkin" wrote

Well, not quite what I mean, but:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Should I give them both a really heavy water before going?
Should I move them to a cold north facing room?
Should I stand them near a bowl of water?

Anything else?


Give them a good morning drink before you go but don't let them stand
in
water. Partially fill a bucket with water and stand the pot in that for
an
hour then take it out and drain.
A cooler room is OK but not a cold room. Moving the warm one into a
cooler
room should also initiate a new flower spike to grow.
They do love humidity so anything to increase that is fine as long as
it
does not get too cold.
Those big fleshy leaves are also storage organs so providing they are
firm
and fat the plants should be fine. Give them another good drink on your
return. It's always safest to water in the morning as water left lying
on
the leaves and especially in the crown overnight will cause rot.

Thanks Bob. Humidity is probably the main problem, I can not
see swmbo allowing a bowl of water placed on the sideboard next
to the orchid!

I've realised of course that the house will be a lot cooler
anyway as we'll turn the heating down low as we go away this
week.


If they are cool then raising the humidity isn't that important.
They used to say if you get the humidity right the wallpaper will fall
off
the wall. :-)

Would it be of any help to place the whole plant inside a clear polythene
bag (assuming you can find one which fits), and seal it? That way the
humidity would be kept up, and any water which condensed would eventually
run down inside the bag. Maybe it could be arranged so that this water
could find its way back into the pot.


Coupled with humidity they also need air movement, so no, that is not a good
suggestion. If you get the chance to see a proper orchid greenhouse you will
see fans causing slight movement to the leaves coupled with the very high
humidity.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 2014-03-11 22:04:14 +0000, Martin said:

On Mon, 10 Mar 2014 22:52:51 -0000, "Bob Hobden" wrote:

"Nick Maclaren" wrote
Bob Hobden wrote:

I have 2 Phal orchids, one of which I water about every 2 weeks
and lives in a warm room (and by the way has just 2 flowers
left on the spike after 8 months in flower), the other every 4
weeks (there's not so much root) and lives in a cooler room.

Now I have a sudden opportunity to go away for 5 or 6 weeks and
am wondering what is best to do?

Thanks Bob. Humidity is probably the main problem, I can not
see swmbo allowing a bowl of water placed on the sideboard next
to the orchid!

I've realised of course that the house will be a lot cooler
anyway as we'll turn the heating down low as we go away this
week.

If they are cool then raising the humidity isn't that important.
They used to say if you get the humidity right the wallpaper will fall off
the wall. :-)

Actually, I think that a lot of this is overstatement, because that
may be what is best but is not necessary (at least for the commonly
available varieties). We had one that sat on a south-facing window
ledge and thrived on intermittent watering and the occasional
repotting for many years.


Very true, a lot of the more commonly available orchids have been
"domesticated" and although in an ideal world require all sorts of humidity,
air circulation, watering and strict temperature ranges they often have not
read the books. I can remember decades ago when Phals were £25 each, only
available from specialist orchid nurseries, and a devil to grow even in
specialist greenhouses, now anyone can grow them on a windowsill it seems.

None of our orchids are in the sun. When they are not in flower they
live in the
kitchen on a north facing window ledge.

I 'disobeyed' all the rules with one of mine. It was on the kitchen
window sill facing west-ish and there's an Aga in there. It sent up
one spike of perfect pink flowers which has been blooming for at least
3 months now. I have another in the same place doing not very much and
another on the bathroom window sill, facing east though above a
radiator, which I know is bad for it. But I have a bowl of water
between it and the radiator and the window is usually open a little. I
don't think we have any 'cool rooms' in the real sense and if we did,
I'd forget to water the darned thing because it wouldn't be a room I'd
go into very often!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk