First Vanda *s* - Orchid Board

Lene Th. · #1 08-19-2008, 05:36 PM

Finally, today i spotted some nice Vandas in a flower-shop nearby my work, and among them was one i really liked!

But sadly, this one has also leafs that seems a bit wrinkled. I think mabye its due to little water and the trip to the shop... Theyre not used to Vandas, and told me that i had to dunk it once a week, about ten minutes, and then let it be. No misting, no light-guidelines and nothing about fertilizing... The same shop had tagged a Oncidium as a Dendrobium, and told me it was just another sort of Dend..

Well, i got it cheaper when i told them about the leafs, and that this one probably suffered from a lot of stress, and i brought it home.

As far as i can tell, the roots looks nice, its just the leafs that are a bit sulked. I dunked it in water with just some drops of fertilizer, trimmed the bad roots that i could find and get to without damaging the rest, and put it in an open basket.
Is this right? And what to do next...?

Pics of my new lady...

Swamper · #2 08-19-2008, 05:45 PM

beautiful vanda, they like a lot of light and a lot of water, Im not sure what type of vanda it is, how big is that basket? how big is the vanda? will it be going outside? what's ur temp like? are the leaves kinda hard and stiff or soft and flexible?

Jkelee · #3 08-19-2008, 05:46 PM

One Word for ya!!

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

cb977 · #4 08-19-2008, 05:49 PM

Lene, that is stunning!

Vandas need water, whether it's be spraying or soaking more than once a week. If it's very hot, they might need it more than once a day!

Vandas have no structure to hold water and nutrients...they only get what we give them .

Lots of light and water and I'm sure that baby will keep you happy for a long time

Congratulations to you

I know how hard it is for you to get orchids

Lene Th. · #5 08-19-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamper

beautiful vanda, they like a lot of light and a lot of water, Im not sure what type of vanda it is, how big is that basket? how big is the vanda? will it be going outside? what's ur temp like? are the leaves kinda hard and stiff or soft and flexible?

The basket is about 20 cm diameter on top, and about 30 cm deep. Smaller in the bottom of course.
The Vanda-base stays about in the middle of the basket, and the roots are hangig down under, and theres a lot around the base of the plant and some above.
Its going to be outside on sunny days, but inside most of the time from now, since the autum are around the corner...
My temp inside is about 20-24 celcius. Outside its all about the weather for the day...
The leafs are hard and stiff, but some are a little flexible as well as a bit wrinkled.

Lene Th. · #6 08-19-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb977

Congratulations to you

I know how hard it is for you to get orchids

Thanks!
I could hardly belive my eyes when i saw the Vandas, and tough i was still at work, i had to drag along the lady im working for into the shop...

But she knows what it means for me, so she was just happy for me.

Swamper · #7 08-19-2008, 06:09 PM

that sounds good on the leaves' texture. I dont know celcius and cm too well sorry, but give them sun in the mornings and afternoons if possible without burning them, they love air flow, if it was mine as pretty as that basket looks on it I'd remove it. And I'd water the heck out of it. Also not to alarm you but there's a little ring on the root that is sometimes caused by thrips, which I would treat it too.unless its just a little fracture?

dgenovese1 · #8 08-19-2008, 07:06 PM

Hi Lene,

You have one beautiful looking Vanda there...it may be a version of V. Robert's delight based on the shape of the bloom and the color patterns, but I can't be positive.

Vandas happen to be my favorite chids

...I have over 140 vandaceous plants in my collection.

They grow well for me here in south Florida, and I encourage you to do what you can for yours in Norway, although it may be a bit of a challenge given their light, temp and water requirements.

As others have stated, they love to be watered, but should also dry fairly quickly afterwards (Swamper's suggestion for good air flow was a good one)...I water mine on a daily basis, early in the morning. They are also heavy feeders...mine get a liquid fertilizer feeding once a week, all year around. I give them bright light, equal to or a little greater than my cattleya plants. As for temperatures, they can tolerate very brief temps < 7 degrees Celsius (45F), but I always protect them to keep them no less than 10 degrees Celsius (50F). If they get too cold they will drop their lower leaves and you'll end up with a long bare stem with a small tuft of leaves at the top.

If you are interested, here is a link to the AOS care sheet for Vandas, used with permission on the Naples Orchid Society website: Vanda Care

PS I just took a bunch of pics from my collection and will be sharing them in the Vanda forum later tonight.

Lene Th. · #9 08-19-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamper

Also not to alarm you but there's a little ring on the root that is sometimes caused by thrips, which I would treat it too.unless its just a little fracture?

I can see the ring youre reffering to, but that is a fracture. I think it has been handled hard, course many of the roots where broken. But they still seem fine, and some has grown more, and new roots on the old ones after the fracture.
Im not familiare with thrips, havent had that on any of mine yet, so how do i treat it if this acoures?

How should i hang it up, if i remove it from the basket? Its airy, and more like just a "seat" to the chid. The roots are hanging down underneath. Why would you remove it? Course of light, air-movement?

Oh, and i alsow have a fan thats going several times a day

Thank for all the help, its really appreciated!!

Swamper · #10 08-19-2008, 11:42 PM

I treat my thrips with permetrol the main active ingredient is permethrin. Look it up should you ever need it. But you don't have that so be very glad and you probably will never have it where you live.
Yes because of the air flow and light also, they are heavy feeders and like to dry quick too.
David grows some amazing vandas and if you can get a look at his hopefully you will see how they're hanging. lol.