I'm killing my neighbour's orchids

[Nomad]

So, I am awful with plants. My new neigbour asked if he can put his three big orchids in my home while he is away for 15 days (since he wouldn't be there to water them and would turn his heat down).

We put them on a table that gets indirect sunlight (he chose the location). And he told me to water them once per week (about 1/2 cup water each) and they would be great.

These things are stressing me out. It's been 10 days now, and two of the three now have many wilty looking flowers. I thought maybe I didn't give enough water, so I added a little more. No improvement.

I am afraid they are not going to make it 5 more days. And they definitely look WAY worse than when I got them, so I feel terrible returning them in this state. This is a new neighbour that I barely know.

Anyone here know anything about orchids, or can offer me any advice?

Other than never agree to do this again

 

[squiggle]

I live in an orchid growing country but it's very difficult to offer advice from afar. In my limited experience, orchids hate to be moved. If they are, it can take a year or more before they deign to flower again. If your neighbour is new, perhaps the orchids are still recovering from the move to his new location. And this wouldn't be helped by then giving them another new environment. (I'm just trying to give you some excuses if the wost happens!)
Apart from that, you could try misting them. It sounds as if the air is too dry as it would usually be in a centrally-heated room. Orchids like moist air. If they are close to a window, perhaps they are too cold at night. They may be better away from the window once the sun has set.
Good luck and never...

 

[trencherman]

Squiggle is most likely right, your place might be too dry. If you have a garden sprayer, just spritz them from time to time. And do not worry too much about the orchids, they are no longer as rare or as expensive as they were say, twenty years ago.

 

[Nomad]

Thanks very much guys! I'll give that a try! I really appreciate your advice!