Vanda Pachara Delight 'Pachara'

[Roberta]

Take a look at this sticky from the Vanda Alliance - Other forum Vandas in Glass Vases to see what some people have done with the "vase culture" concept. The clear vase gives the roots light - which they can utilize, and provides a confined area that maintains humidity without too much wetness. Skip to the last page to see some more recent posts on the topic.

Also... Vandas grow sloooowly even under the best of circumstances. Starting with a plant with two inch leaves, it's going to be awhile to get to blooming size. Better conditions will help, but you're still looking at some years.

[estación seca]

early - make sure the roots get good and wet for a couple of hours every day, then dry. Spraying with a spray bottle isn't enough. I would suggest filling the containers with water for a couple of hours, then draining them. Don't let them sit in water all day. Some people get away with it with Phalaenopsis, but the Vanda seedlings I tried that way all died.

Larger Vandas are good with daily watering. With damaged seedlings I would get them wet morning and evening. People freak out about watering orchids in the evening, but in our low humidity climates it's not a problem. When your seedlings begin growing roots they will perk up and look better.

Consider getting a bottle of KelpMax from First Rays. It really does make Vanda seedlings sprout roots rapidly.

They don't grow much unless you fertilize. Put a small amount into your soaking water, like 1/4 teaspoon of typical 20-20-20 in a gallon of water. Use that every other day. When you have new roots forming, you can increase the fertilizer concentration.

[early]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Also... Vandas grow sloooowly even under the best of circumstances. Starting with a plant with two inch leaves, it's going to be awhile to get to blooming size. Better conditions will help, but you're still looking at some years.

Thanks Roberta I have heard as long as 5 yrs. Good thing I am patient...

---------- Post added at 03:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:09 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

early - make sure the roots get good and wet for a couple of hours every day, then dry. Spraying with a spray bottle isn't enough. I would suggest filling the containers with water for a couple of hours, then draining them. Don't let them sit in water all day. Some people get away with it with Phalaenopsis, but the Vanda seedlings I tried that way all died.

Larger Vandas are good with daily watering. With damaged seedlings I would get them wet morning and evening. People freak out about watering orchids in the evening, but in our low humidity climates it's not a problem. When your seedlings begin growing roots they will perk up and look better.

Consider getting a bottle of KelpMax from First Rays. It really does make Vanda seedlings sprout roots rapidly.

They don't grow much unless you fertilize. Put a small amount into your soaking water, like 1/4 teaspoon of typical 20-20-20 in a gallon of water. Use that every other day. When you have new roots forming, you can increase the fertilizer concentration.

Thanks e s. all good advice in our dry clim. I have some KelpMax and will try using. I keep a gallon of 1/4th 20-2o-20 and use it daily. Another question. I have green algea on the sides of my S/H pots which are clear. Maybe I will start a new post to address that so it does not get lost in Vandas. I may buy one that is a bit more mature so I dont have to wait 5 yrs ;lol

---------- Post added at 03:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:17 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

early - make sure the roots get good and wet for a couple of hours every day, then dry. Spraying with a spray bottle isn't enough. I would suggest filling the containers with water for a couple of hours, then draining them. Don't let them sit in water all day. Some people get away with it with Phalaenopsis, but the Vanda seedlings I tried that way all died.

Larger Vandas are good with daily watering. With damaged seedlings I would get them wet morning and evening. People freak out about watering orchids in the evening, but in our low humidity climates it's not a problem. When your seedlings begin growing roots they will perk up and look better.

Consider getting a bottle of KelpMax from First Rays. It really does make Vanda seedlings sprout roots rapidly.

They don't grow much unless you fertilize. Put a small amount into your soaking water, like 1/4 teaspoon of typical 20-20-20 in a gallon of water. Use that every other day. When you have new roots forming, you can increase the fertilizer concentration.

Thanks e s. all good advice in our dry clim. I have some KelpMax and will try using. I keep a gallon of 1/4th 20-2o-20 and use it daily. Another question. I have green algea on the sides of my S/H pots which are clear. Maybe I will start a new post to address that so it does not get lost in Vandas. I may buy one that is a bit more mature so I dont have to wait 5 yrs ;lol

[estación seca]

In his extensive Web site firstrays.com Ray mentions algae growing in S/H pots is generally because of using too much fertilizer. I think he suggests using 10-25 ppm nitrogen with each watering, which is a very low amount. There is a nitrogen calculator on his Web site where you input the N number from your fertilizer and you can calculate how much you need to add to achieve a target N concentration.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Also... Vandas grow sloooowly even under the best of circumstances.

True! A 'snails pace' is like running when compared with vanda growth rate.

[early]

Originally Posted by estación seca

In his extensive Web site firstrays.com Ray mentions algae growing in S/H pots is generally because of using too much fertilizer. I think he suggests using 10-25 ppm nitrogen with each watering, which is a very low amount. There is a nitrogen calculator on his Web site where you input the N number from your fertilizer and you can calculate how much you need to add to achieve a target N concentration.

thanks, I will check out Ray's info re nitrogen. I thought it was probably do to watering with fertilizer more often. sometimes a little neglect does not hurt

[SouthPark]

But I do love Pachara Delight, and currently have two juvenile ones, which have been growing nicely (as in staying healthy) ------ and totally agree. Under very good conditions ...... ok ... will use snails pace haha. But that's ok! It'll get there!