I normally water my orchids when pots are light or if the roots are white.

I just use tap water for mine and they are ok and feed once a month.

How long will your neighbour be away.

Just give a little tepid water but never let orchids sit in water.

I'm no expert but the wife seems to have that department under control( she looks after the inside I look aft the outside)

Regarding the weight of the pots they are generally quite light in the first place as they don't actually contain soil/ soilless composts.

Regarding watering; she waters all her plants once a week by sitting them in shallow bowls of water(tap) for up to half an hour each, then she leaves them to drain off on the draining board.

She feeds them generally once a month,unless they are in flower then she feeds them weekly.

But I would suggest you do not feed your neighbours plants as she may have her own regime for doing this.

Thank you. It doesn't sound as though they need watering very often then. I'll just keep an eye on them.

my gran has a friend who shows orchids and she only gives them a tablespoon of water a week.

they hardly need water. just a general mist if they look abit down.

Thank you all! I think I may just leave well alone. I certainly wouldn't try feeding the orchids ( what with?!)and it doesn't sound as though they need much water. And it's not what you'd call tropical here - we had frost last night!