vanda tesselata dropping leaves

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by nikkik

I have had the same thing happen to some of my vandas, much like you I have grown and flowered many vandas in my environment. After a lot of observation, I have noticed that my vandas that come from certain vendors or parts of the country seem to succumb to the leaf drop that you describe.

I had a tessellata that was imported it quickly lost most of its leaves and died; I believe that plant had a fungus because it was a 2 foot plant that succumbed in month. I believe the environmental change helped to hasten the rate of the fungus. I have since replaced it with two plants from Hawaii (different color forms), one is an adult and one a very young seedling both have been thriving in the same type of environment as the one I previously had.

I have had a ton of success with vandas from vendors in the Northeast, Midwest, Southern California and Hawaii. I have found that some of the vendors that import vandas from Asia and resell quickly don't stand the test of time (at least for me), possibly because there are so many environmental differences and the stress of travel that it weakens the plant beyond recovery, especially if there was any disease that was previously kept at bay because the plant was grown in optimal conditions.

I know many may disagree with my thoughts on this, but is just my observation about my collection and growing environment. And I thought I would share my experience with you because I would become quite frustrated when my vandas were loosing leaves without any obvious reason, especially when the vandas that require the same environment next to them are thriving.

I wish you much luck in saving your plant and wish I had a cure for the leaf drop.

I think you have a point. I bought this plant form abita orchids in ebay and they are located in Louisiana. My big vandas can tolerate shortcomings and this being a young plant probably is unforgiving due to the environment changes that it went through.. I really wish this survives cause I can't wait to see the blooms. It is a black x blue and should be fragrant!

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Good luck. I hope you can save it.

thanks! I do hope so too!!

---------- Post added at 10:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:15 PM ----------

Originally Posted by bil

I did try vase culture, but the way the roots are growing, I'd need to get an 18 inch Diam vase, and that's just not on. The roots simply wouldn't cooperate.

---------- Post added at 12:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 PM ----------



Yeah, mine have Spanish moss twisted round the roots. So far it's doing well.

I was thinking of potting it up in bark. I added a humidifier around it to see if it is a humidity issue. This is a big deal for me cause I haven't had a plant die on me. Some are stubborn bloomers and still trying to get around it but they grow fine. This on the other hand is going downhill quite fast...