Vanda Help Required

[ZenithOrchid]

Hi

I have a newly purchased vanda. Lets assume it was healthy when I got it. It had two flower spikes thathave since developed and flowered. A third spike had buds but they have turned brown and don't look like they'll flower.

The plant is outdoors in Singapore, so a tropical climate, humid and temps between 28-33 Deg C normally. It gets almost no direct sunlight, but its in bright, sunny location (its just in the shade most of the day).

My question is about the watering. What's enough and what is too much ? I am currently spraying twice a day, but the roots have ended up looking like the photo, and I am worried I am killing it. The roots look "mouldy" but in areas feel dry.

For now, otherwise the plant seems to be healthy enough but I would appreciate some direction.

[estación seca]

Those are normal older roots. Vandas do need a lot of water.

[DeaC]

Water, water and more water.

[Dr. Dave 4u]

I was wondering if your vanda might benefit from an actual soak in a bucket for a certain period?
Is spraying it hydrating it enough?
Maybe a soak in the am and a spray later?
Could it help and maybe not hurt?
Just my thought?
Maybe a senior member could comment further?

My disclaimer....(Total newbie here who killed his Hawaiian raised vandas in the winter of northern NJ after they flowered beautifully in the summer....)

[ZenithOrchid]

Thanks all, it sounds like I need to water MORE ! I was just concerned that these roots looked like they were suffering from being too wet. I am still wary of this dark green look. Does anyone have photos of healthy vanda roots on a well watered plant

[Orchidtinkerer]

Hi Zenith, I could show you some perfect looking vanda roots and I can show you some that look worse than yours. Vanda roots take a long time to grow their roots and they like to keep these roots for years. So over time it is very common for the roots to get covered in bird droppings, grow moss and algae on them. Very similar to tree branches exposed in the air. Go out into the forest and look at the bases of the trees. They should have a similar look to the roots on your orchid and I think they look like a well weathered vanda root should look like. I know it can be hard to judge in what state the root is actually in as it is essentially completely covered in algae and what you are seeing and worried about it just a covering of algae hiding the root underneath it. The roots do fine like this, I certainly don't clean any of mine. You can still judge how they are doing by how plump or shriveled they are and yours look fine to me. We can't see your leaves but the leaves are a great indicator of how much to water. If they become slightly wrinkly you need to increase the watering frequency but if the leaves have no signs of wrinkling and are plump then the roots are doing their job and should be in a good shape and getting enough water.

[ZenithOrchid]

Tinkerer.

Many thanks for your feedback. My leaves are a little wrinkled so will increase watering.

Q : I had another vanda that I think I essentially "killed" due to underwatering. It has been cut into 4 sections, all have active roots, but the leaves are wrinkled and in some cases brown. Is it a lost cause or should I keep watering and hoping ? The roots do appear reasonably active in growth if not healthy

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by ZenithOrchid

Tinkerer.

Many thanks for your feedback. My leaves are a little wrinkled so will increase watering.

Q : I had another vanda that I think I essentially "killed" due to underwatering. It has been cut into 4 sections, all have active roots, but the leaves are wrinkled and in some cases brown. Is it a lost cause or should I keep watering and hoping ? The roots do appear reasonably active in growth if not healthy

As long as there is green there is hope! Keep watering! You can't overwater a bare-root vanda, as long as the roots also get air.

[Orchidtinkerer]

sorry about the late response but yes go with what Roberta has said and hope for the best.
If a bacterial infection is the cause of the brown leaves it can be tricky. Once an infection takes hold it can be hard to eliminate it.
But just hope it hasn't got an infection. Keep it well hydrated but let it dry out every day or so too. Stress can set a vanda back making it grow very slowly but as long as it doesn't all go brown there is generally indeed hope it will bounce around again. It can go either way, once a vanda has been in ones care for one full season can one be sure it is over it's initial transport stress and acclimatization to a different environment.