New roots don't grow into potting medium, non of them.

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

For me, roots outside the media are not a good option because my air is too dry. I just steer the roots into the media however i can. If they a several inces long i can usualy bend them and point them into the media, or sometimes I let the velamin snap so i can get them to go.

Are you growing Neofinetia?

For me there is a reason to grow this one 'pot in pot'. It's not only airy but also very humid because the air is trapped within the translucent container.
This is what this Vanda (Neofinetia) likes here and as you can see it makes a huge difference.
Without the translucent pot I don't think I could keep up with watering.

The roots refused to grow into the medium, even if I forced them into it (new coarse bark). Literally non of them grew into the bark, if forced they crawled out.

As you can tell there is a huge difference in how this Vanda performs 'pot in pot' vs regularly potted in a medium of my choice. Which is a medium that normally does well where I live.

I can imagine that New Mexico the air is very dry, there is maybe a way to keep more humidity in the outer container. For instance by using pieces from clay pots.

I have to water more often now of course, currently 2-3 times a day but for me it's well worth the effort.

[Louis_W]

No I dont grow Neos, you got me ! Do Vanda roots go towards the light? Do they dislike the darkess in the media?

[Blueszz]

I asked about growing Neofinetia's because I only grow Vanda's this way. Not the big Vanda suavis, that one is bare root in a slat wooden basket. It needs to be water at least once daily.

I have 2 smaller (=younger) Vanda's. One pictured in this thread. I got them 'pot in pot' from the vendor and the plants are thriving. Not enough roots for their own basket, I let them grow some more until they go entirely bare root.

Neofinetia's are reclassified as Vanda.

No, I don't think it's about disliking darkness. I truly believe it's because they love a humid and airy medium and often airy is 'bare foot'.
The 'pot in pot' is in between potted and bare root.

I had my Neofinetia in chunky bark but the plant decided it was not good enough. It barely grew new roots and almost no new leaves.

On YouTube I've seen people potting Vanda's but they aren't thriving as far is I could see.

Growing the Neofinetia 'bare foot' allows them to get wet and dry fast. While keeping humidity up longer around the roots because of the out pot.

This works for me, in my growing conditions. I'm not familiar with your growing conditions. Do you have other Vanda's and if so, how are you growing them?
Eager to learn.