Going away for the National Day long holiday - what do you do about your Phalaenopsis at home? Save this orchid care guide
For the 7-day National Day holiday, who doesn't want to grab a suitcase and just go? But the moment you think of that Phalaenopsis on the balcony that just put out a flower spike, it suddenly feels like a "sweet burden" - this thing hates drying out and hates being waterlogged, and if you're away that long, you can't let it thirst into a "dried flower," and you can't water it so much that the roots rot, right? So here are a few tried-and-tested methods so you can enjoy your trip and your orchid stays healthy too.
On your last day before leaving, remember to give your Phalaenopsis a full checkup! First, check the watering: poke the sphagnum moss with your finger - if it still feels moist, don't water; if it's completely dry, water it thoroughly (remember, "thoroughly""flooded"!). Second, check the location: move the pot away from the windowsill with direct sunlight right away - a spot with indirect light is safest. Third, check its health: look carefully at the leaves for pests or disease, and deal with any problems quickly, or you might come back to a total wipeout!
Different "survival plans" for different numbers of days - find the one that fits you
3-5 day short trip: the lazy person's bonus period
If you're just going somewhere nearby for three or four days, then it couldn't be easier! What I usually do is this: after watering thoroughly, move the Phalaenopsis to the coolest spot in the house! Phalaenopsis is actually quite drought-tolerant, so leaving it alone for a short time is no problem at all. But remember to turn off the humidifier next to it, or you'll come back to mushrooms growing on the sphagnum moss!
7 day standard holiday: you need a few little tricks
The most common 7-day National Day holiday takes a bit more thought. I recommend trying the "cotton wick water supply method": find a large basin, fill it with water, put a few bricks in to raise the level, place the pot on the bricks, then put one end of a cotton string in the water and bury the other end in the sphagnum moss in the pot. This way the water seeps in slowly - tested and it works! But be careful the water level isn't too high, and don't let the pot sit directly in the water.
10 days or more, an extra-long holiday: it's best to find a ""
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Wishing you and your Phalaenopsis a happy holiday!