Potting Vandas

[jantigercat]

Hello all,

I'd like to ask what is your opinion about potting vandas especially in clay pots. I grow my vandas in glass vase culture and they love it. The downside is that the culture does not hold moisture at all. I spray the orchids every day aside form the weekly soak they get.

Would it be ok if I transferred them to clay pots?

Thanks!
Jan

[Roberta]

It sounds to me like you have a technique that is giving the Vandas what they want - humid air. My experience with potting Vandas is that eventually the roots in the pot die (too wet) , and it sends roots out into the the air - some free-running root systems can get quite substantial. Basically, they really, really don't like being in pots.

[estación seca]

There is a member here named Fairoaks who grows Vandas potted. Before making a change use the Search feature to see how he grows them.

[Louis_W]

Ya I haven't had much success with Vandas here in dry New Mexico but I did grow one for a few years and potted it in LECA and watered it every day. I worked well until I went on a trip and didn't water it for a few days. If I were to try it now I would just put it in SH like my Cattleyas.

[jantigercat]

Originally Posted by Roberta

It sounds to me like you have a technique that is giving the Vandas what they want - humid air. My experience with potting Vandas is that eventually the roots in the pot die (too wet) , and it sends roots out into the the air - some free-running root systems can get quite substantial. Basically, they really, really don't like being in pots.

They love it! But it would not be feasible when I am away for more than two weeks. I do not want to trouble the friend who waters my plants with filling up the vases and then letting them soak and then pouring the water out. :-(

A possible solution would be to use coarse bark mixed with pumice a medium.

[Ray]

I’m with Roberta on this. Vandas are climbing vines. The closest thing to a pot I’ve seen work is a slat basket containing no medium. Whenever I’ve tried to add coarse bark or even 16 mm LECA, those roots were lost.

[estación seca]

I goofed. I meant OB user Fairorchids.

[jcec1]

Originally Posted by jantigercat

They love it! But it would not be feasible when I am away for more than two weeks. I do not want to trouble the friend who waters my plants with filling up the vases and then letting them soak and then pouring the water out. :-(

A possible solution would be to use coarse bark mixed with pumice a medium.

I grow mine in glass vases and when I'm away on holiday, I just put 2-4 cm water in the vase depending on the size of the vase and plant - never had an issue.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by jcec1

I grow mine in glass vases and when I'm away on holiday, I just put 2-4 cm water in the vase depending on the size of the vase and plant - never had an issue.

I suspect that the time interval could be extended by covering the top of the vase with plastic wrap - sort of a little greenhouse. A few weeks of less-than-wonderful air circulation won't hurt. With that bit of water at the bottom, and evaporation reduced or eliminated at the top, the humidity will stay very high in the root zone.

[Fairorchids]

The vase culture works well in a house, when you allow a little water to remain in the bottom after soaking the roots. That maintains high humidity in the vase, where the roots are.

In my greenhouse, I use baskets lightly packed with spaghnum and a little bark. That provides good humidity in the root zone, so I only have to water once a week in the winter, and twice a week in the summer.