Vanda crown base getting whiter

[Mercurianmad]

Ok. This might be nothing but I just soaked my vanda for a bit, 4 hours, which I’ve been doing every 3 days cause it’s so crazy dry here. Now I noticed my vanda is white let at the base. I don’t know if this was from the soaking, or if this is normal for them. I know orchids can handle soaks occasionally without getting crown rot but I just want to be sure.

[SouthPark]

MM ...... hard to tell from the photo whether the surrounding lighting is making the leaves look light-yellow, or not.

Does this orchid receive very bright, high intensity light?

And does the crown region get soaked too? Or just the roots? I would just soak the roots.

Actually ----- for my orchids, I wouldn't soak anything at all. But - if I really had to use a soaking method, it would be just soaking root region only.

[Mercurianmad]

Sorry I was soaking up to the very base of the crown above the roots. I try to keep the water below the Bottom leaves. Here are more pictures. From now on I will just soak the bottom roots and leave the base of the orchid completely out of the water. I hope I didn’t damage it.

[Mercurianmad]

That black edging on the base of the crown was already there when I got it by the way

---------- Post added at 07:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:03 AM ----------

To answer your question SP it gets some direct sun for about two hours in the early morning, northeast window, then diffused direct sun in the southeast for four hours in the afternoon, and less ambient light for the rest of the day as the sun moves around. My grow light should be coming today, at which point it will also get supplemental light.

---------- Post added at 07:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:25 AM ----------

I think once the hanging basket comes I will stop soaking and just hang in the shower or sink to water it. I really don’t want to kill this plant it’s flowers are so beautiful

---------- Post added at 07:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:26 AM ----------

And with us being so isolated during COVID, not seeing anyone and being up in the mountains, it’s nice to have something beautiful to take care of.

[SouthPark]

MM ---- thanks for posting those other photos. From the looks of those other photos, the colour of the leaves look quite good.

If you just allow for a dry-out (gentle air-movement around the leaves and stem), and soak only the root section - which is what you mentioned you are going to do already ------- then your orchid will likely be just fine. Just maintain suitable temperature for the orchid.

The black edging should be ok. If it just stays like that, and dried up, then it will be ok

[estación seca]

The lightening of color could be due to sun and heat, even early in the morning.

We don't know how it was grown before you got it. Most of the time Vanda seedlings are grown in much lower light than adult plants; it is better to give a little less light than risk sunburning such a small plant. It is not big enough to flower, so the high light is not as necessary as it will be later.

I might suggest either putting some sort of sheer fabric between that plant and the sun, or setting it behind the Cattleya so it doesn't get the sun directly on the Vanda. Or you could have even a very small fan on the plant. People here have posted photos of using computer fans on their orchids. They are powered by transformers of the type used for electric shavers, and other small appliances. Cut the small plug that connects to the device from the transformer cord, twist one wire onto each wire of the computer fan, and cover the junction with a wire nut or electrician's tape. You can even have it on a timer.