Paravanda culture

[cheryl]

I have been raising this lovely little plant called a paravanda, but can find no information as to its culture or what kind of light/water/fertilizer to give it. I don't want to burn it up in heavy light if it is a shade lover. CAn any one shed any light? excuse the pun please.

[Phantasm]

It sort of depends on the parents. This cross is paraphalaenopsis x vanda, and the parents could be anything from sun lovers to cattleya light. I would treat it like a vanda, bright light but don't burn it, feed it often and keep an eye on it.

[Ray]

Also use the form of the plant as a guide - if the leaves are somewhat terete, then you know it can handle high light levels.

In any case, if you want to raise the light levels, slowly transition the plant into brighter conditions to avoid burning. If I have a question, I give plants about three or four days (or longer) in one location and watch it closely. If it shows no signs of responding to higher light levels, only then will I move it brighter.

[cheryl]

Thanks everyone. I have the plant outdoors now in a plastic greenhouse, protected from the high heat and sun, but in bright light. It seems to be doing well there. I am using the Michigan State fertilizer every other week and it looks great. Can't wait to see a bloom on it.

[cb977]

Good luck Cheryl...we'd all love to see the pictures when it blooms

[justatypn]

Ray, your a wealth of information, maked a lot of sense, also noting in the reverse light cycle. Something we can all work with...tks. gl ... Cheryl

[horses_too]

Just for grins, which cross is it? I have several (and similar multigenerics with paraphal as one parent) and depending upon the paraphal used, their wants seem to differ. Labukensis crosses seem to appreciate light more than serpentilingua ones, and denevei crosses can be downright fragile. Laycockii influence seems to be sort of in the middle somewhere. I grow most of mine in moderate light 2000-2500fc but the denevei and its crosses live in the shade with most of the phals.

And oddly, it seems that the paraphal preference dominates! I have a renanthera/paraphal cross that is decidedly unhappy in very strong light, and the paraphal used was labukensis. Mecca's Candy also would appear to be a sun-lover by breeding, but mine are much happier in cat conditions rather than out in the real sun with its terete vanda relatives.

[peterorchid]

i have this orchid ready to bloom for the first time in 3 years. got it at our local orchid show. spikes would develop and then stop at about 1/2". this year, remembering it comes from tailands' vicinity, i put it on the front porch so it gets direct sun for about 4-5 hours. my backyards brightest area is not bright enough i guess. peter in buffalo, ny

[breeindy]

was wondering what this vanda was until i read this. is this a phal x vanda?

[jaxorchidman]

It could be a Darwinara. The unbloomed blooms (does that make sense?) look like my Dar. Charm 'Blue Star' blooms with the little spike on the back of it. Someone let me know if I'm wrong. I am not an orchid master by any means.